
GEO. WASHINGTON. 
Copied from the Painting by Trumbull in the New York City Hall. 



FROM BUNKER HILL 
TO MANILA BAY 

A RKCORD OF BATTLES 



FOR AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 
THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION 
AND THE EXTENSION OF TERRITORY 



COMPILED IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FROM THE 
MOST AUTHENTIC RECORDS 

BY JOHN F. DOBBS 

Associate Editor of "Ridpath Library of Universal Literature," and. 
Compiler of the Official Edition of the "Messages and 
Papers of the Presidents" of the United States 



NEW YORK, N. Y. 
1906. 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

MAh 26 1907 

S- Gopyrieht Entry 
fLoxr,l<Z,,/fo I 

CLASS A XXc, No. 
COPY B, 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1906, by John F. Dobbs, in the 
office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 




PREFACE. 



D g the course of a year's study and research in the 
Library of Congress at Washington, collecting and ar- 
ranging certain details of American history, I conceived 
the idea of presenting at least one class of facts in more 
condensed form than I had been able to find them. 

The subject I first selected was the achievements of 
American arms, both on account of its widespread interest 
and extensive literature. I found that to get any exact 
data concerning the record of battles it was necessary to 
read through a mass of descriptive detail, cumbersome 
official reports and much irrelevant matter. 

The shelves of our libraries are stacked with volumes 
of history, swelled with sworn affidavits, official reports 
and documents, to such size that the average American 
can not hope to read them all. Yet he wants to know and 
ought to know how his great estate was won; when, 
where, by whom and at what cost he is enabled to say 
My Country. 

The Spartan grandsire who told the tales of heroism 
to the callow shepherd boy helped make a race of Grecian 
patriots. Whoever helps to keep before the busy Ameri- 
can the story of the struggle of his people helps keep alive 
the spark that blazed up bright at Bunker Hill, at Gettys- 
burg and on the land and sea at Santiago. 

Writers of history as a rule generalize whenever they 
can do so consistently and safely, in order to avoid the 
dull recital of figures. Statisticians, on the other hand, 
present their carefully prepared tables, with summaries 



iv PREFACE. 

and well worked-out averages and percentages, omitting 
anything like cause and effect, leaving speculation to the 
verbose historian. 

In the absence of any brief and comprehensive general 
work on the subject, I have undertaken to compile from 
these various sources a concise record of the battles for 
American independence, the extension of territory, and 
the preservation of the union of the states. The principal 
authorities consulted were "American State Papers" 
(Force Collection); "Narrative and Critical History of 
America," Winsor; the works of Gordon, Ramsey, Ban- 
croft, Hildreth, Palfrey, Lossing, and others, as well as 
the official reports made by military and naval officers; 
the publications of various State historical societies and 
Congress. 

I have arranged the wars chronologically, introducing 
each with a brief summary of the events which combined 
to provoke hostilities. The battles are arranged in the 
same order, beginning with a concise account of the cir- 
cumstances leading up to each conflict; its location; the 
number of men engaged on each side, the names of their 
commanding officers, with the result of the battle and the 
casualties. 

I have nothing new to present, and nothing more novel 
than a partly digested condensation of a great subject, 
and if it shall make more readily accessible some facts 
which inspire patriotism, my object will have been ac- 
complished. J. F. D. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Portrait of Washington Frontispiece 

Battle of Bunker Hill 16 

Boston Massacre 33 

Battle of Princeton 48 

Wyoming Massacre 65 

Storming of Stony Point 80 

..Camden (S. C.) ; Death of De Kalb 97 

Cowpens — Encounter Between Washington and Tarleton 112 

Siege of Yorktown ; Death of Colonel Scammell 129 

Constitution and Guerriere 149 

Perry's Victory on Lake Erie 161 

MacDonough on Lake Champlain 176 

Battle of New Orleans 193 

Chapultepec 208 

Lyon's Charge at Wilson's Creek 225 

Storming of Fort Donelson 257 

Gettysburg 272 

Wilderness ; Attack on Spottsylvania 289 

Sketch Plan of Battle of Manila Bay 304 



INTRODUCTION. 



George Washington in his farewell address counselled 
his fellow citizens to observe good faith and justice 
toward all nations; to cultivate peace and harmony with 
all; to exclude antipathies against particular nations and 
passionate attachments for others; to avoid entangling 
permanent alliances by interweaving our destiny with that 
of any part of Europe; to preserve the unity of govern- 
ment which constitutes the Americans one people — the 
East, West, North and South each dependent upon the 
other. 

In accordance with this peaceful sentiment the army 
was practically disbanded shortly after the close of the 
War of the Revolution, and the navy ceased to exist. A 
strong prejudice against a standing army was inherited 
from Revolutionary days and endured until necessity called 
for its reorganization. When occasion demanded, how- 
ever, naval and military heroes sprang up from among 
the people and proved the assertion of Washington that 
we could, by following his precepts, take such an attitude 
before the world as would defy material injury from ex- 
ternal annoyance and enable us to choose peace or war as 
justice should counsel. 

In spite of our peaceful intentions and wise advice of 
our first commander-in-chief, we have been forced to fight 
to preserve the union and maintain that independence 
and dignified attitude toward the world. Our enlisted 
men have fought a thousand battles, half a million men 
have perished in the service and every day in the year is 



viii INTRODUCTION. 

the anniversary of a conflict of American arms. The 
record of these struggles has been written in many his- 
tories and is commemorated in many enduring shafts of 
marble and piles of graven granite. The names of the 
heroes of the actions are on every tongue. The school 
boy hears of Vicksburg and Palo Alto as of ancient his- 
tory, and buries Grant and Scott and Taylor in the tomb 
of his brain beside Hannibal and Caesar. 

Suffer not these heroes and their struggles to be for- 
gotten, lest they shall have fought in vain. Tell the story 
often and from every view, not that strife may be en- 
gendered, but that valor may prevail. 

General histories cannot note the details of battles and 
special histories of the various wars usually contain much 
that is political relating to their conduct and technical in 
the description of the engagements. Setting aside politi- 
cal criticism and technical description, I herewith pre- 
sent a careful compilation of authentic information on 
questions which first suggest themselves in a discussion 
of that most important phase of the nation's history — its 
battles. 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 



The spirit of American independence was inherent in 
the early colonists who sought, in the unknown wilds of 
the new world, to escape the religious persecutions and 
military slavery so common in Europe in the XVIth and 
XVIIth centuries. French Huguenots fled to Florida, 
escaping their tormentors at home only to be exter- 
minated by the Spanish who disputed their occupation of 
the new territory. The early English settlers of Vir- 
ginia, under Raleigh, disappeared without leaving a trace 
of their brief history, and their successors survived only 
after desperate struggles against poverty and savage In- 
dians. The Catholic settlers of Maryland, under Cal- 
vert, displayed a liberality of thought and a policy of toler- 
ance of the opinions of others which was foreign to their 
religion at home and a standing rebuke to the Puritans of 
New England. The peaceful Quakers and the Dutch 
traders between the Hudson River and the mouth of the 
Delaware were imbued with a spirit of enterprise and self- 
reliance engendered and fostered by distance from the 
seat of government. The political tendencies of the New 
England Puritans were essentially democratic. 

Most of the early expeditions of discovery and settle- 
ment which found their way to the coasts of America 
were under royal patronage. The territory discovered 
was taken possession of in the name of the crown and 
grants of land and rights of government and trade were 
made to settlers by the sovereigns of Europe. As the 
king was, by theory of English law, feudal proprietor of 
England, so he became, after the expulsion of the French, 



10 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

proprietor of all colonial America except the Spanish 
possessions of Florida, the West India Islands and the 
territory west of the Mississippi River. 

The Puritans of New England acknowledged that they 
had received their charter from England and depended 
upon that state for protection and immunities as free born 
Englishmen, but the duties which were correlative to 
these immunities and which are necessary to a true con- 
ception of allegiance were not mentioned. The charter 
of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was very liberal and 
expressly stated that the inhabitants of the colony were 
to be subjects of England and entitled to the privileges of 
such. The oaths of supremacy and allegiance were to be 
administered to all who should go to the colony. Ample 
powers of government were granted, but the laws of 
the colony were not to be contrary to those of England. 
. As a matter of fact, the oath of allegiance was not ad- 
ministered, but instead an oath of fidelity to the govern- 
ment of Massachusetts. An ecclesiastical system wholly 
different from that of England was established. Only 
those were admitted to political rights who were mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church. Acknowledgment of 
allegiance to England was an empty form. The colony 
even claimed final judicial power and denied the right of 
appeal to England. 

An idea of how nearly independent Massachusetts was 
subsequent to 1680 may be gained from the fact that the 
colony coined money; taxed English imports; strove to 
enlarge her territory, not only without the King's con- 
sent, but in defiance of his absolute prohibition ; and, with- 
out the consent of the home government, entered the 
New England confederation. These acts led Charles I 
to begin proceedings for the recall of the charter. 
Troubles at home caused Charles to abandon this project. 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 11 

During the period of the Commonwealth the views ot 
the home government were in fair accord with those of 
the leaders in the colonies., After the Restoration, how- 
ever, Parliament assumed control of colonial affairs. 

The writings of Samuel Adams about 1750 tended to 
form the sentiment of opposition to Parliamentary inter- 
ference with colonial affairs. The passage and enforce- 
ment of the English navigation laws restricting the com- 
merce of the colonies to trade with England in English 
ships, while it gave an impetus to ship-building, severely 
handicapped trade in general. 

In 1765, Lord George Grenville, Chancellor of the 
British Exchequer, proposed a bill for taxing the colonies 
through a stamp duty. This act caused great indignation 
in America. Taxation without representation was de- 
nounced as tyranny. The Stamp Act Congress was called 
and made a statement of grievances and a declaration of 
rights. In 1766 Parliament repealed the stamp act, but 
adhered to the policy of taxing the colonies. The next 
year duties were laid on glass, paper, printers' ink and 
tea. In 1773 the duties, with the exception of three 
pence per pound on tea, were repealed. It was now a 
question of principle, and the colonists absolutely refused 
to be taxed. They refused to buy the tea. Much of it 
spoiled in warehouses, and in Boston a mob, disguised 
as Indians, boarded vessels in the harbor and threw over- 
board their cargoes of tea. 

The British government, determined to enforce the au- 
thority of the Crown over the colonies, sent a fleet with 
10,000 troops to America and later an army of 55,000. 

Delegates from the several colonies convened in Phila- 
delphia, Sept. 5, 1774. This was the first step toward in- 
dependence. In less than two months after the delegates 
had retired to their homes, the colonists began to pur- 



12 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

chase and seize arms and munitions of war. In June, 1775, 
the continental congress appropriated £6,000 for the sup- 
port of a continental army of 20,000 men and appointed 
George Washington Commander-in-Chief. 

July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was 
passed. After a winter of hardship, the British army 
evacuated Boston. Washington repaired to New York, 
where he encountered General Howe, his brother, Ad- 
miral Howe, and Sir Henry Clinton, with an army of 
35,000 men. Defeated on Long Island and in the vicinity 
of New York, Washington retreated toward Philadelphia 
by way of New Jersey, closely pursued by the British. 

Efforts to induce the Canadian colonists to join the 
revolution failed, but substantial French assistance was 
obtained. The British armies, though generally victo- 
rious, were much weakened. In 1780 35,000 additional 
troops were sent to America, and Lord Cornwallis 
marched from Charleston, through North Carolina, pur- 
suing and sometimes defeating the colonial forces under 
Generals Gates and Greene. Arriving in Virginia, he was 
confronted by the American army under Lafayette and 
Washington. Just at this time, a powerful French fleet 
under Admiral De Varney arrived with 6,000 men under 
Count de Rochambeau, and Cornwallis was blockaded in 
Yorktown. He was compelled to surrender Oct. 19, 1781. 
This virtually ended the war, and a treaty of peace was 
signed Sept. 3, 1783, granting to the United States all the 
territory from Canada to Florida and west to the Mis- 
sissippi River. 

From the retreat at Lexington to the capitulation at 
Yorktown, including the surrender of the two armies, 
the British losses were not less than 25,000 men, while 
the Americans lost about 8,000. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Lexington — [April 19, 1775] — On the night of April 18, 
1775, a detachment of 800 British grenadiers and light in- 
fantry under Colonel Francis Smith left Boston to capture 
or destroy some military stores which the Massachusetts 
Committee of Safety had collected and secreted at Con- 
cord. The expedition also had orders to arrest John Han- 
cock and Samuel Adams, who were stopping in Lexing- 
ton, and to bring them in as prisoners of war to be trans- 
ported to England for trial on the charge of treason. 
Major John Pitcairn, who, with six companies of light in- 
fantry, led the British advance, was opposed at daybreak 
of the 19th at Lexington green, eleven miles northwest of 
Boston by thirty-eight minute men under Captain John 
Parker. These had been summoned by Paul Revere, who 
went from Boston by way of Charlestown, and William 
Dawes, who went by way of Roxbury. The two mes- 
sengers, upon arriving in Lexington, went to the house of 
the Rev. Jonas Clark, and warned Hancock and Adams, 
who escaped. 

The British advanced to within fifty feet of where 
Parker's men were drawn up in line to oppose them. Pit- 
cairn, riding ahead, ordered them to lay down their arms 
and disperse under penalty of death, and, without waiting 
for a response, immediately ordered his first platoon to 
fire. No one was injured by this fire and Captain Parker 
ordered his men to disperse. The second platoon of the 
British then opened fire and 6 of the retreating Ameri- 
cans were killed outright, and 14 wounded, two of them 
mortally. 



14 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

The main body of British under Colonel Smith then ar- 
riving, the whole party pushed on toward Concord, pur- 
sued by the Colonials, who fired into their ranks and cap- 
tured seven prisoners, the first taken in the war. 

The killed and mortally wounded were Robert Monroe, 
Jonas Parker, Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Harrington, Jr., 
Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Harrington, John Brown and Asahel 
Porter. 

Although this was not the first blood shed in the cause 
of American freedom, it was the first armed and organized 
opposition to the British forces, and served as a spark to 
fire the heated passions of the colonists and unite all dis- 
cordant elements in the single purpose to drive the British 
from American soil. 

Concord — [April 19, 1775] — After the brief engagement 
at Lexington, Major Pitcairn was joined by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Smith with the main body of his command, and 
the detachment of 800 British soldiers took up their march 
toward Concord, six miles farther west, where they ar- 
rived about seven o'clock on the morning of April 19. 
During the night the minute men and militia had been 
aroused and by daylight were coming into Concord singly 
and by companies. Colonel James Barrett, a veteran of 
the French and Indian Wars assumed command. Captain 
David Brown paraded the Concord company on the com- 
mon. A company of minute men arrived from Lincoln 
under Captain William Smith and Lieutenant Samuel 
Hoare. Captain Jonathan Wilson led a company of nine- 
teen men from Bedford, and Isaac Davis brought a com- 
pany from Acton. On the arrival of the several companies 
they were formed into two battalions by Joseph Hosmer, 
acting adjutant, the whole force not exceeding 350. De- 
tachments were stationed at the two bridges over the Con- 
cord River, north and south of the town, under command 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 15 

of Captain Jonathan Farrar. The British troops entered 
the town without opposition, cut down and burned the 
liberty pole, broke off the trunnions of three 24-pound 
cannon, burned some new carriage wheels, and threw 
about 500 pounds of balls into the mill pond and wells in 
the vicinity, besides destroying some thirty barrels of flour 
and other stores. From the west side of the river, whither 
they had retired on the approach of the British, the Colo- 
nists saw the work of destruction and determined to re- 
turn to the village and fight for their homes and their 
property. Advancing to the North Bridge, led by Major 
Buttrick they were met by three companies of British 
under Captain Lawrie, who had been sent to guard the 
bridge. Lawrie retreated toward the village, signalled for 
reinforcements, and fired upon the advancing minute men. 
Two men were killed and two injured. Major Buttrick im- 
mediately gave orders to fire, and a volley from the whole 
line of advancing Colonials was given. Three lieutenants 
and several privates fell on the spot. Captain Lawrie con- 
tinued the retreat until reinforced by the grenadiers in the 
center of the village. By noon Colonel Smith's whole 
command was in retreat toward Boston, and Buttrick's 
men continued the pursuit. On their return from Concord 
about two o'clock in the afternoon the fleeing British were 
reinforced at Lexington by Lord Percy with 1,000 infantry, 
and two fieldpieces. The Americans were constantly 
being reinforced by fresh arrivals from the surrounding 
country and were only kept at bay by Percy's fieldpieces. 
The road between Lexington and Boston was by this time 
lined with minute men and militia, who kept up a guerrilla 
fire upon the British troops, assaulting the flanking parties 
and picking them off from ambush, all the way to Boston, 
where they arrived just before dark. Lord Percy re- 
formed his disorganized men at Bunker Hill, and awaited 



16 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

an attack, which General Heath, in command of the Ameri- 
cans, deemed inexpedient. The loss for the day, includ- 
ing Lexington, Concord, and the retreat to Boston, was 
49 Americans killed, 51 wounded, and 5 missing, a total of 
105 men. The British loss was 68 killed, 178 wounded, 
and 27 missing, a total of 273. 

Ticonderoga, Capture of — [May 10, 1775] — Ten days 
after the events of Lexington and Concord, Captain Bene- 
dict Arnold, of New Haven, Conn., marched into Cam- 
bridge with his company, known at home as the Governor's 
Guard, and tendering his services to the Committee of 
Safety, proposed an expedition against Ticonderoga, New 
York, at the junction of Lakes George and Champlain. This 
fort was garrisoned by 50 men under the British Captain 
Delaplace. After informing the New York Committee of 
Safety of the project, Arnold was commissioned May 3, 
1775, to proceed to western Massachusetts and enlist men 
to the number of 400, march to Fort Ticonderoga, use his 
best endeavors to reduce the same, and return with such 
ammunition and stores as in his judgment might be of use 
to the army at Cambridge. 

Meanwhile the Connecticut Committee of Safety sent 
forward a Committee of War for the Expedition Against 
Ticonderoga. The committee consisted of Major Hal- 
stead, Captain Edward Mott, Captain Noah Phelps and 
Bernard Romans. They took 19 unarmed men from Con- 
necticut and were joined at Pittsfield, Mass., by Colonel 
John Easton and between 30 and 40 men; proceeding 
thence to Bennington, Vt., they were joined by Colonel 
Ethan Allen and a party of "Green Mountain Boys," swell- 
ing the force of the expedition to 140 men. May 7, the party 
arrived at Castleton, Vt., nine miles from Whitehall, N. Y. 
Here a council of war was held, at which it was decided 
that Ethan Allen should have chief command, Colonels 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 17 

Easton and Warner next in succession. While prepara- 
tions for the advance were being made Captain Arnold ar- 
rived and claimed the command of the expedition by virtue 
of his commission from the Massachusetts Committee of 
Safety. He had heard of the movement, and had hastened 
on, leaving his men to follow. He was allowed to share 
in the command. The force was divided here, parties 
being sent to points north and south on the lake. At dawn 
of May 10, Allen, Arnold, a guide and 83 men had been 
ferried across. Fearing further delay would frustrate their 
plans, Ethan Allen, with Arnold at his side, led the men up 
to the gate of the fort, surprised the sentinels, and rushing 
in, demanded its surrender "in the name of the Great 
Jehovah and the Continental Congress." Finding resist- 
ance useless Delaplace surrendered the garrison of 50 men 
and 128 cannon, with muskets, ball and powder. The sur- 
prise was complete. Not a man was lost on either side. 
Margaretta, Capture of — [May 11, 1775] — Early in 
May, 1775, news of the conflicts at Concord and Lexing- 
ton reached Machias, Maine. The British schooner Mar- 
garetta, Captain Moore, mounting four six-pounders, twen- 
ty swivels and two wall pieces, manned by two commis- 
sioned officers, and thirty-eight men, forty in all, lay in 
port. On May 11th, Joseph Wheaton and Dennis and 
Jeremiah O'Brien collected a volunteer crew numbering 
less than thirty, and boarding a sloop commanded by Cap- 
tain Job Haines, sailed in pursuit of the Margaretta. The 
armament of the sloop consisted of twenty fowling pieces, 
a dozen pitchforks and a like number of axes. The Mar- 
garetta put to sea attempting to escape and opened fire on 
the sloop killing one man. The return fire from the Yan- 
kee ship killed the Captain and helmsman of the schooner, 
and the crew made little further resistance, and the vessel 
was boarded and carried. 



18 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

This, the first naval engagement of American arms, has 
been called the Lexington of the sea; for like that cele- 
brated skirmish, it was the rising of the people against the 
regular forces of the King, it was the first blow struck on 
the sea as Lexington was the first on land. One Amer- 
ican and two British is the record of casualties. 

Crown Point, Capture of — [May 12, 1775] — Two days 
after the taking of Fort Ticonderoga, Colonel Seth 
Warner, with a small detachment of men proceeded to 
Crown Point, in Essex County, New York, on Lake Cham- 
plain, about ninety miles north of Albany. The place was 
strongly fortified, and mounted 111 cannon, but was gar- 
risoned by only twelve men. These were captured with- 
out resistance, and the fort was manned by Warner's men. 

St. Johns, Capture of— [May 15, 1775]— Colonel Bene- 
dict Arnold with 50 men boarded a small schooner which 
had been captured from Major Skene and his tory re- 
tainers at Skenesborough, now Whitehall, New York, on 
Lake Champlain, and proceeded with her through the lake 
and down the Sorel River to St. Johns, where the King's 
sloop of war George III, mounting sixteen guns and a 
supply of provisions was known to be. Arnold surprised 
the fort at St. Johns, took the garrison prisoners, seized 
the George III and nine batteaux, and re-embarked for 
Ticonderoga without the loss of a man. 

Colonel Ethan Allen, with about sixty men, embarked 
in batteaux at Ticonderoga and proceeded for St. Johns, 
arriving there after the departure of Arnold with his 
prisoners. Allen landed at the fort on the evening of the 
17th, but reinforcements having arrived at St. Johns he 
retired across the river, where he was attacked by a force 
of 200 men and six fieldpieces. He made no resistance, 
but took to his boats and returned to Ticonderoga with 
a loss of three men, who were taken prisoners. 






THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 19 

The capture of Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Skenes- 
borough and St. Johns, in a few days, and by a series of 
bold exploits, gave the Americans possession of the high- 
way to Canada as well as a much needed supply of artillery 
and military stores, without the injury of a single man. 

Noddle's Island — [May 27, 1775] — A detachment of be- 
tween twenty and thirty men were sent by the Massachu- 
setts Committee of Safety to secure and drive to a place 
of safety all the live stock on Noddle's Island, Hog Island 
and Snake Island, which were situated about a mile north- 
east of Boston and separated from the mainland by Chel- 
sea Creek. About forty British marines from the fleet 
in Boston Harbor, had been stationed on Noddle's Island 
to prevent the removal of the stock. Before the object 
of the expedition could be accomplished a large number 
of marines were dispatched in boats from the fleet to 
strengthen the guard. The colonists fired on the marines, 
killing three and wounding one, and then retreated to Hog 
Island, where they were reinforced by 200 men and drove 
off all the stock on that Island. Later the colonists were 
joined at Chelsea Neck by 300 men under Colonel Israel 
Putnam and Dr. Joseph Warren, and further firing ensued, 
resulting in the retreat of the marines, and the narrow 
escape from destuction of their schooner. 

Bunker Hill, or Breed Hill— [June 17, 1775]— After the 
engagements at Lexington and Concord the British force 
under General Gage was increased to 10,000 men by the 
arrival of Generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne with 
their commands from England. These occupied the town 
of Boston on a peninsula extending into the harbor. The 
naval forces consisted of the Falcon, Lively, Somerset, 
Symmetry, Glasgow and four floating batteries. 

Across the Charles River, at Cambridge, and on the sur- 
rounding hills, were encamped between 16,000 and 20,000 



20 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

undisciplined Americans. The British, thus cut off from 
communication with the mainland, were seriously hamper- 
ed for provisions, and General Gage contemplated a move- 
ment to occupy the several heights near Charlestown, at 
Dorchester, and other adjacent points. On the night of 
June 16, 1775, about 1,000 Americans under Colonel Will- 
iam Prescott, were sent to fortify Bunker Hill, Charles- 
town, lying north of Boston on another peninsula. The 
Committee of Safety had recommended the fortification 
of Bunker Hill, but Colonel Prescott's written orders, is- 
sued by General Ward, took him over Bunker Hill to 
Breed Hill in Charlestown. 

Under the direction of Colonel Richard Gridley a re- 
doubt was nearly completed by daybreak. From the 
northeast corner of this redoubt a breastwork had been 
thrown up extending northward about 100 yards toward 
a marsh at the foot of the hill. About 200 yards to the 
rear of the unfinished breastwork and to the northwest 
stood a line of posts with two rails, set in a low stone wall, 
extending for about 300 yards from the Mystick or Med- 
ford River toward the high ground in the center of the 
peninsula. Behind this wall Captain Thomas Knowlton, 
with 200 Connecticut troops took his position, Captain 
Samuel Gridley, with two companies of artillery was post- 
ed on the left flank. Prescott's 300 men and the commands 
of Colonels Frye and Bridge occupied the redoubt, and 
were reinforced during the morning by Reed's and Stark's 
regiments, increasing the number of the defenders to be- 
tween 1,200 and 1,500 men. 

On the morning of the 17th, the British man-of-war 
Lively in the harbor opened fire on the fortifications, and 
transports soon began landing men at the foot of the hill. 
During the morning about 3,000, possibly 3,500, British 
crossed the harbor in boats to dislodge the Colonials from 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 21 

the hill. After three bloody charges the Americans were 
driven from their position, having defended themselves 
with gunstocks and stones when their ammunition was 
exhausted. 

The British loss in this, the first real battle of the Revol- 
utionary War, was 226 killed and 828 wounded, a total of 
1,054, of whom 83 were officers. The Americans lost 145 
killed and missing and 304 wounded, a total of 449, includ- 
ing General Joseph Warren. 

The statistics of this battle show the number of killed 
to have been more than 30 per cent, of the number en- 
gaged, thus placing it among the bloodiest battles known 
to history. At Waterloo the British loss was less than 
34 per cent, and that of the allied forces about 15 per cent., 
after fighting all of one day. At Gettysburg, after three 
days of fighting, the Union army lost 25 per cent., while 
30 per cent, of those who fought at Bunker Hill fell in 
an hour and a half. 

St. Johns.— [Sept. 6, 10, 17, Nov. 1, 1775]— After the 
taking of Ticonderoga and Grown Point, Ethan Allen, 
Philip Schuyler, Benedict Arnold and other Americans 
were anxious to invade Canada and secure the co-opera- 
tion of the Canadians in the struggle against imperial 
authority. Colonel Hinman succeeded Arnold in the com- 
mand of Ticonderoga. June 27, 1775, the Continental 
Congress gave General Schuyler discretionary power to 
proceed against Montreal. He went to Ticonderoga and 
took command July 18, 1775. On August 31st, he dis- 
patched General Richard Montgomery with 1,200 men 
northward through Lake Champlain and established head- 
quarters at the Isle aux Noix, near the northern end of 
the lake. Schuyler issued an address to the Canadians 
informing them of the purpose of the expedition and 
promising protection to persons and property. September 



22 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

6th Montgomery landed a force and proceeded against 
Fort St. Johns, on the west bank of the Richelieu River. 
This post, which Arnold had surprised and captured the 
previous May and abandoned, was now defended by about 
500 British regulars and 100 Canadian volunteers under 
Major Charles Preston. Montgomery's men were re- 
pulsed with the loss of 14 killed, wounded and missing, 
and, learning of the strength of the garrison withdrew to 
the Isle aux Noix, where, on September 8th, they were 
joined by 400 New Yorkers and 300 Connecticut troops. 

September 10th the American force, now numbering 
1,700 effective men, with two cannon and two mortars, made 
a second attempt on St. Johns which resulted in failure. 
General Schuyler returned to Ticonderoga, leaving Gen- 
eral Montgomery in command of the expedition. 

September 17th, having been joined by 170 Green Moun- 
tain Boys under Colonel Warner, Montgomery, with 500 
men marched around to the north of St. Johns, and, after 
defeating a small party of the garrison sent out to inter- 
cept him, succeeded in occupying two roads leading re- 
spectively to Chambly and Longeuil, so as to intercept any 
relief which might be sent to the garrison from those 
points or Montreal. The fort at Chambly surrendered to 
Major Livingston October 19th. 

November 1st, Montgomery, having shifted his position 
to the north of the fort at St. Johns, and being well sup- 
plied with ammunition taken at Fort Chambly, began a 
bombardment. The next day Major Preston surrendered 
with 600 men, forty-one pieces of artillery, seven mortars 
and some naval stores. Among the prisoners taken were 
Major John Andre and Captain Anbury. 

Fort Chambly— [Oct. 19, 1775]— The Canadians 
south of the St. Lawrence River showed their faith in 
Montgomery by keeping him informed of the strength and 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 23 

position of the British troops. Major Livingston, with 
300 friendly Canadians, proposed, with the aid of American 
artillery, to occupy Fort Chambly, 12 miles north of St. 
Johns. With the assistance of Major Brown and fifty 
men from Montgomery's army, cannon were floated down 
the river past the fort at St. Johns during the night, and 
on October 19th, after a feeble resistance, the garrison of 
83 royal fusileers and eight officers under Major Stopford, 
surrendered as prisoners of war. The ammunition and 
stores taken at Chambly was reported by General Mont- 
gomery as 124 barrels gunpowder, 6,564 musket cartridges, 
150 stand of French arms, 3 mortars, 61 shells, 300 swivel 
shot and 500 hand grenades, 141 barrels of pork, 80 barrel's 
of flour, 11 barrels of rice, and seven barrels of peas. 

Montreal, Occupation of — [Nov. 13, 1775] — After taking 
the forts at St. Johns and Chambly, General Montgomery 
proceeded to Montreal where he arrived November 12th, 
1775. Before his arrival General Guy Carleton, with the 
garrison and the civil officers had evacuated the city. 
Montgomery addressed a letter to the citizens urging their 
surrender. The Governor having fled with General Carle- 
ton a committe of the citizens formally surrendered, and 
the American army entered the town on the 13th. A pre- 
vious unauthorized attempt on Montreal had been made 
by Colonel Ethan Allen, September 24th, which resulted 
in disaster. Allen, with 110 men, crossed the St. Lawrence 
River to the island upon which Montreal is situated, ex- 
pecting to be joined in his attack by Major Brown with 200 
men. The latter failed to keep the appointment and Gen- 
eral Carleton, learning of Allen's weakness, assembled a 
party of citizens, Indians, and about 40 regulars under 
Major Campbell, and dispatched them against the invad- 
ers. After two hours of irregular warfare, Allen, with less 
than forty of his retainers left, surrendered. 



24 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Carleton's Men, Capture of— [Nov. 20, 1775]— Before 
proceeding to Montreal General Montgomery stationed 
Colonel Easton at the mouth of the Sorel River to prevent 
General Carleton's escape to Quebec. Easton was in com- 
plete command of the river at the point where the Sorel 
empties into it, and the British fleet, after two unsuccessful 
attempts, to pass, was forced to surrender, on November 
20th, 1775. General Carleton escaped in disguise into the 
country and later reached Quebec. Aboard the vessels 
when captured were Brigadier General Prescott, two staff 
officers, ten commissioned officers, 132 non-commissioned 
officers and privates, 145 in all. The stores included 760 
barrels of pork, 675 barrels of flour, 376 firkins of butter, 
20 barrels of biscuit, 12 barrels of rice, and about 200 pairs 
of shoes. 

Great Bridge, Va. — [Dec. 9, 1775]— Opposition to Brit- 
ish rule in America was as vigorous in the southern col- 
onies as in the northern. The population was less in Vir- 
ginia and the Carolinas and there was the usual percent- 
age of tories, but the sentiment of independence was firmly 
rooted in the hearts of many of the most energetic and 
powerful planters. In Virginia, Lord Dunmore, the royal 
governor, abandoned his post at Williamsburg, and estab- 
lished his headquarters on the British man-of-war Fowey 
off Yorktown. He issued proclamations calling to his sup- 
port all persons loyal to the King; stigmatized all others 
as traitors, and offered freedom to all slaves belonging to 
"rebels." who should desert their masters and join His 
Majesty's troops. The Colonials had collected and stored 
a quantity of military supplies at Suffolk, in Nansemond 
County. For the protection of these stores Colonel Will- 
iam Woodford repaired with 300 men November 25, 1775, 
to the south of the James River. For the purpose of 
preventing Colonel Woodford getting into Norfolk, the 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 25 

Governor sent a party to occupy the eastern end of the 
Great Bridge which crossed the south branch of the Eliz- 
abeth River, about nine miles from Norfolk. Decem- 
ber 9, 1775, 600 royalists, consisting of 200 regulars 
under Captain Fordyce, a company of loyalists from 
Norfolk and some marines and black and white irreg- 
ulars were induced to attack the Americans at the 
western end of the bridge. The King's troops were 
well supplied with artillery and began the fighting 
with a connonade which did no damage. Captain 
Fordyce with his 200 grenadiers, crossed the bridge 
and, setting fire to some buildings on an island near the 
western bank of the river, advanced to where Lieutenant 
Travis with 60 men was intrenched behind a breastwork. 
When within 100 yards of the breastwork Travis' men 
fired and Captain Fordyce and twelve privates fell dead 
at the first shot. Lieutenant Battut and sixteen privates 
were wounded and taken prisoners. The remainder of 
the British crossed the bridge in confusion, harassed 
by the Culpeper battalion under Colonel Stevens. The 
entire loss of the British was estimated variously at from 
60 to half the force that crossed the bridge, while but 
one man was wounded on the American side. The next 
day Colonel Woodford occupied the fort at the eastern 
end of the bridge, taking possession of seven pieces of 
artillery. After being reinforced by recruits from the sur- 
rounding country, Woodford advanced to Norfolk, from 
which the royalists retired on his approach to vessels in 
the harbor. 

Quebec — [Dec. 31, 1775] — After taking Montreal, Gen- 
eral Montgomery with 300 men, and artillery, proceeded 
down the St. Lawrence River to Quebec, where, on De- 
cember 3d, 1775, he united with the expedition which Gen- 
eral Washington had sent by way of the Kennebec and 



26 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Chaudiere Rivers under Benedict Arnold. Arnold's com- 
mand started from Newburyport, Mass., September 13th r 
1,100 strong, and consisted of ten companies of infantry 
and three of riflemen. It was officered by Generals Greene 
and Enos, Majors Bigelow and Return J. Meigs, Captain 
Daniel Morgan and Aaron Burr. On November 13th r 
1775, after two months of severe journeyings through the 
forests of Maine, the men suffering terrible hardships, Ar- 
nold stood upon the Heights of Abraham overlook- 
ing Quebec, with his force reduced to but little more 
than 500 effective men, making, after his junction with 
Montgomery, something more than 800 men available for 
the assault on Quebec. General Carleton had for the de- 
fense of Quebec one company of British regulars, a sloop 
of war and a few marines, together with as many of the 
citizens as could be induced to enlist, amounting to some 
1,600 men in all. 

At two o'clock in the morning, of December 31st, the 
city was attacked. The army was divided into four detach- 
ments, two of which were to make feints on the upper 
town, a party under Major Brown to menace the bastion on 
Cape Diamond, and another, under General Livingston, to 
attack and set fire to the St. Louis Gate. Montgomery de- 
scended from the Heights of Abraham by way of Wolfe's 
Ravine, and, with two aides, an orderly and ten men, was 
killed by a discharge of grape shot immediately after cut- 
ting his way through a stockade which had been erected 
along the slope of the precipice and between the foot of 
the cliff and the river. The remainder of his detachment 
withdrew under Lieut. Colonel Campbell. Arnold was 
wounded at the head of his division. Captain Morgan, 
who succeeded him in command, was overpowered and cap- 
tured, with 426 of his men, as well as Captain Henry Dear- 
born with a small party who had left to guard the Palace 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 27 

gate. The rear end of the division retreated to camp, 
leaving, besides the prisoners and Captain Lamb's artil- 
lery, some 150 dead and wounded comrades on the field. 
The British loss was officially reported as seven killed or 
mortally wounded and eleven wounded. Arnold withdrew 
what was left of the army from the immediate vicinity of 
Quebec, and maintained a partial blockade of the river 
until April, 1776, when he was relieved by General Woos- 
ter who arrived from Montreal with nearly 2,000 men. 
Early in May, Wooster was succeeded by General Thomas. 
May 6, 1776, General Burgoyne reached Quebec from Eng- 
land, with three brigades of infantry, besides artillery, 
stores, ammunition, transports and men-of-war. General 
Thomas died of small-pox, and the army retired from Can- 
ada, leaving that province as it was before the invasion. 
Three thousand troops had been sent to reinforce Arnold 
and 4,000 occupied Montreal, St. Johns and Chambly. 

Norfolk, Burning of — [Jan. 1, 1776] — Lord Dun- 
more, the royal governor of Virginia, assumed mili- 
tary control of Norfolk in November, 1775. After the 
defeat of a detachment sent against the Colonials at 
Great Bridge, the British retired to Norfolk, and later em- 
barked in H. M. S., the Otter, which lay in the Elizabeth 
River. Colonel William Woodford, with the second Vir- 
ginia militia, and Colonel Howe, with one regiment from 
North Carolina and two companies of Maryland militia 
occupied the town. From the buildings on the wharves, 
the riflemen kept up a destructive fire on the ships. Jan- 
uary 1, 1776, Dunmore began a bombardment and sent 
ashore a party to set fire to the town. Its destruction 
was completed by the Americans to prevent it becoming a 
shelter for the British. 

Moore's Creek Bridge— [Feb. 27, 1776]— The inde- 
pendent patriots of North Carolina, at the breaking out 



28 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

of the Revolution, were opposed by two strong factions 
of the people — the regulators, who cared little for estab- 
lished forms of law and order, but who proposed to regu- 
the colonies and hoped ultimately to return to the land of 
their birth or end their days under the flag of the prince 
to whom they were devoted with all the ardor which char- 
late the affairs of the community by their own code of 
morals ; and the Scotch royalists, who were sojourners in 
acterizes the race. Governor Martin, of North Carolina, 
from his headquarters aboard the Cruiser in Cape Fear 
River, sent emissaries to these two parties calling upon 
them to show their allegiance to the crown by rallying 
to the royal standard. He sent a Brigadier-General's com- 
mission to Donald McDonald, a well-known Scotch loyal- 
ist, and the latter set up his standard at Cross Creek, 
Cumberland County, where Fayetteville now stands, and 
by February, 1776, some 1,500 men had gathered to his 
support. General James Moore, with a small force of 
Colonials took possession of Rockfish Bridge, seven miles 
from McDonald's position. Here he was joined by 
Colonels Lillington, Kenon and Ashe, with 450 minute 
men and militia. McDonald advanced toward Moore's 
camp and demanded his surrender. Colonels Martin and 
Thackston, with small forces of Colonials, arrived at Fay- 
etteville after McDonald's departure, and Colonel Richard 
Caswell advanced to Moore's Creek Bridge where a breast- 
work was thrown up by Colonel Lillington. The tories 
were by this time almost surrounded. On the morning 
of February 27, 1776, McDonald's men, under the personal 
leadership of Captain MacLeod, advanced to the bridge, 
about 1,500 strong, amid the inspiring notes of the na- 
tional bagpipes. The colonists under Caswell numbered 
about 1,000 including the Newberne and Wilmington bat- 
talions of minute men, and militia from Craven, Johnston, 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 29 

Dobbs and Wake. Some of the plank had been removed 
from the bridge, and the Colonials reserved their fire until 
the tories were within thirty paces of the breastworks. 
At the first fire Captains MacLeod and Campbell, and 
about thirty of their men were killed and in a few minutes 
the whole army was in confusion; retreat across the re- 
maining timbers of the bridge was difficult and many were 
wounded and drowned in the attempt. General McDon- 
ald, who was too ill to take part in the battle, was taken 
prisoner with about 850 men, who were disarmed and dis- 
charged while McDonald was taken to Newberne by Col- 
onel Caswell. Fifteen hundred rifles, 350 guns, 150 swords 
and £15,000 were among the trophies of the battle. The 
loss to the Colonials was two men wounded, one fatally. 
The effect of this battle was to encourage the patriots 
and stamp out toryism in the colony. The spirit of tory- 
ism was broken. Governor Martin's plans were frustrated 
and royal government came to an end in North Carolina. 

Boston. Siege and Evacuation of — [April 19, 1775, 
to March 17, 1776]— From the 19th of April, 1775, 
the date of the precipitate flight of the forces of Lord 
Percy and Lieutenant Colonel Smith from the vengeance 
of the colonists at Lexington and Concord when General 
Heath ordered a guard to be posted at the foot of Pros- 
pect Hill, the British were practically in a state of siege 
in Boston until their forced evacuation March 17, 1776. 

The battle of Bunker Hill was an incident of the siege, 
where a sortie from the town compelled the besiegers to 
abandon one advanced position they had taken, without 
interfering with the lines occupied for two months pre- 
viously. 

The fortification of Bunker Hill, began by the Ameri- 
cans, was carried out under the direction of General Howe, 
and the colonists strengthened their works on Prospect 



30 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

and Winter Hills, at Cambridge and Roxbui*3j, Brookline 
and Dorchester. Both parties occasionally cannonaded 
their opponents and many skirmishes occurred between 
the Colonials and the King's troops. 

The Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia, 
May 10, 1775, appointed George Washington commander 
in chief of the Continental Army. 

Washington arrived at Cambridge July 3, 1775, and as- 
sumed command of the army, which was found to consist 
of 13,743 men fit for duty, exclusive of officers, and 520 
men attached to the artillery. July 9, a council of war 
was held, attended by all general officers in camp. The 
sense of the meeting was that the posts then occupied 
should be maintained and defended and the Continental 
army should be increased to at least 22,000 men, and that 
the colonies should be called upon to complete their 
quotas of troops. The British force was reported to be 
11,500. 

July 22, 1775, the Continental Army was organized and 
posted as follows: Ward's, Thomas's, Fellows's, Cotton's, 
Danielson's and Brewer's regiments were formed into 
a brigade and placed under the command of General 
Thomas. Spencer's, Parson's, Huntington's, Walker's, 
and Read's regiments and some odd companies of in- 
dependents composed another brigade under command of 
Brigadier General Spencer. These two brigades formed the 
right wing of the army and were posted at Roxbury and 
its southern dependencies, with Major General Ward in 
command of the division. Stark's, Poor's, Reid's, Nixon's, 
Mansfield's and Doolittle's regiments formed a brigade 
under General Sullivan, and were stationed on Winter 
Hill. Varnum's, Hitchcock's, Church's, Whitcomb's, 
Gardner's, Little's, and Brewer's regiments formed another 
brigade under Brigadier General Greene, and were sta- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 31 

tioned at Prospect Hill, and formed the left wing of the 
army under command of Major General Lee. Heath's, 
Patterson's, Scammon's, Phinney's, Gerrish's and Pres- 
cott's regiments formed a brigade under Brigadier General 
Heath. Putnam's, Glover's, Frye's, Bridge's, Wood- 
bridge's and Sergeant's regiments formed another brigade 
under the senior officer, this division forming the center 
of the army commanded by Major General Putnam and 
stationed at Cambridge, Maiden, Chelsea, Medford and 
Brookline. 

August 3, 1775, the supply of powder in Washington's 
army was reported to be 9,937 pounds, an amount deemed 
inadequate for offensive operations. This condition of 
affairs was known only to a few in whom the utmost con- 
fidence could be placed, and much impatience and dissat- 
isfaction existed in the ranks and among the people at 
large over the inactivity of the army. 

September 11, 1775, the subject of an attack on Boston 
was discussed by a council of war consisting of the Major 
and Brigadier Generals. The relative positions of the two 
armies, their condition and equipment were carefully con- 
sidered and it was unanimously agreed that an assault 
on Boston was inexpedient at that time, 

October 10, 1775, General Gage was succeeded in com- 
mand of the British forces by General Howe, who imme- 
diately advised the evacuation of Boston. The British 
army was suffering for want of provisions and vegetables, 
being entirely cut off from the surrounding country. 

During October, a committee of congress, consisting 
of Benjamin Franklin (Pa.), Thomas' Lynch (Carolina) 
and Colonel Harrison (Va.), visited the camp. After care- 
ful discussion it was decided to provide for the enlistment 
of 26 regiments of eight companies each, besides riflemen 
and artillery. The project of an assault on the besieged 



32 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

British was again unanimously rejected. General Howe 
was unable to secure enough transports to convey his 
army at once to New York, whither he had been advised 
to go, and he dared not divide his forces. To intercept 
any supplies which might be sent to Boston by sea, armed 
vessels were fitted out by both Continental and Colonial 
authority. The assembly of Rhode Island had authorized 
two vessels to be fitted out under command of Abraham 
and Christopher Whipple. Connecticut also authorized 
the preparation of two armed cruisers, and Washington 
issued a privateer's commission to Captain Broughton 
of Marblehead. The Lynch, the Franklin, the Lee, the 
Warren, the Washington, the Harrison and the Quebec 
were commissioned by Congress. Transports which had 
been sent to Quebec for forage were held by Governor 
Carleton for protection against the invasion of Mont- 
gomery and Arnold. 

November 9, 1775, about 400 British soldiers sent out 
from Boston on a foraging expedition were attacked at 
Lechmere's Point by a party of riflemen and Pennsylvania 
troops. Two British were killed and two Americans 
wounded. Later the Continental lines were advanced to 
this point and a bomb battery and water battery were 
erected. 

The Lee brought into Cape Ann the ordnance brig 
Nancy, carrying a large quantity of military stores, and 
later captured another British vessel bearing the mails 
from Europe. 

January 1, 1776, the Federal flag, bearing thirteen stripes 
and thirteen stars in a field of blue, was raised over the 
besieging army about Boston and it became in name, 
and in fact the Continental Army. 

During January, the question of an attack on the King's 
forces in Boston was again submitted to a council of 




55 

O 

H 
en 

O 
pq 

W 
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THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 33 

general officers, at which John Adams and Joseph Warren 
were present. It was decided to make an attack as soon 
as practical. Thirteen regiments of militia were requested 
from the colonies to reinforce the Continental Army, 
during February. It was later decided to send three of 
these to Canada to assist in operations against Quebec 
and Montreal. 

February 16, 1776, another council of war was held. 
The general submitted the strength of the army at 8,797 
men fit for duty exclusive of officers; that the stock of pow- 
der was so small as to afford little aid from cannon or 
mortars, and that 2,000 men were without firelocks; that 
the strength of the British army in Boston did not exceed 
5,000 men fit for duty, but that reinforcements were ex- 
pected, and when arrived would doubtless attempt to pene- 
trate into the country or move to some other port. It 
was decided to postpone assault until it could be preceded 
by bombardment for several days, and that bombardment 
would be advisable as soon as sufficient powder could be 
obtained and not before, and that preparations should 
be made to take possession of Dorchester Hill. 

The Sons of Liberty at New York had seized a quantity 
of stores at Turtle Bay and these, with those taken in the 
brig Nancy, together with supplies sent from Providence, 
R. I., and other cities, enabled the general to begin offen- 
sive operations. 

February 26, 1776, cannon were mounted on Lechmere's 
Point; March 1, several mortars were sent to Roxbury, 
and the bombardment was begun. On the night of the 
4th, under cover of heavy cannonading, General Thomas, 
with 2,500 men, occupied Dorchester Heights, and by 
morning, under the supervision of Engineer Gridley, 
was well intrenched. A violent storm on March 5, pre- 
vented a projected attack by General Howe. March 9, 



34 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

a battery was planted on Bird's Hill, Dorchester Creek, 
and a detachment was sent to strengthen Nook's Hill, 
Dorchester. From these points the Continentals were 
driven with the loss of five men killed. On the 13th a 
council of war decided to fortify Nook's Hill the next day, 
if the enemy had not by that time evacuated the town. 

For several days General Howe had been making prep- 
arations to leave. Many of the guns were spiked, trunnions 
were knocked off and carriages destroyed, while people 
and stores were being embarked. 

Sunday morning, March 17th, the embarkation of the 
troops took place. On account of the prevalence of small- 
pox, Washington's army did not occupy the town till 
Wednesday, the 20th. General Howe's force, including sea- 
men, at the time of evacuation was about 11,000 men. 
More than 2,000 refugees also went aboard, and the fleet 
sailed for Halifax. 

Boston Harbor— [June 13, 1776]— After the with- 
drawal of the British from Boston, several of their vessels 
remained in and about the harbor. May 17, 1776, the 
Franklin, Captain Mugford, one of the cruisers which had 
been ordered by the Continental Congress, captured and 
brought into Boston Harbor the British transport Hope, 
laden with military stores, including 1,500 barrels of gun- 
powder, an article then much needed by the Continental 
Army. Two days later the Franklin was attacked by boats 
from the enemy's vessels. Captain Mugford was fatally 
wounded but the assailants were beaten off. On June 13, 
a final attack was made on the British in the harbor of 
Boston. General Benjamin Lincoln posted 1,200 men, 
mostly militia, at Hull and Pettick's Island; 600 militia 
and a detachment of artillery at Moon Island, Hoff's Neck, 
and Point Alderton, while Colonel Whitcomb, with 
two 18-pounders and a 13-inch mortar and a detachment 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 35 

of regulars took post along Long Island. Commodore 
Banks, in command of the British vessels, returned the fire 
for a short time, but a few well-directed shots determined 
him to retire, and, after blowing up the lighthouse, he 
sailed away, leaving Boston entirely free from the British. 

Fort Sullivan, Charleston, S. C, Defense of — [June 
28, 1776] — Early in 1775, the people of South Caro- 
lina began to organize in opposition to British ag- 
gressions, and, in September of that year, William 
Moultrie raised the first American flag which was unfurled 
in South Carolina. Having driven off the men-of-war 
which blockaded the port, Colonel Moultrie was placed in 
command of Sullivan's Island, which commanded the en- 
trance to the port of Charleston. 

Feb. 12, 1776, a British fleet in command of Admiral Sir 
Peter Parker, sailed from Cork, Ireland, for America. The 
fleet consisted of the Bristol and Experiment, 50 guns 
each; the Solebay, the Syren, the Active, and the Acteon, 
28 guns each; the Sphynx, 20; the Friendship, 18; the 
Ranger 8 and the bomb ketch Thunder, with six guns 
and two mortars, together with several smaller vessels 
and a large number of transports. On the transports 
were embarked 3,000 men consisting of the Fifteenth, 
Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third, Thirty-seventh, Fifty-fourth, 
and Fifty-seventh regiments and seven companies of the 
Forty- sixth, under command of General Lord Cornwallis. 
This fleet was ordered to co-operate with the royal gover- 
nors of the colonies in suppressing the rebellion in Amer- 
ica. The land forces were to be under the command of 
Sir Henry Clinton, and were to effect a junction with 
Howe as soon as the latter should arrive in New York. 
May 3, 1776, the fleet arrived off Cape Fear, North 
Carolina. General Clinton assumed command and the ex- 
pedition started for Charleston, S. C. 



36 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Intelligence of the threatened attack reached Charleston 
June 1, and General Charles Lee, in command of the Colon- 
ials there, prepared for the defense. Colonels Thompson, 
Clark and Horry with 200 men each, a company of militia 
riflemen with an 18-pounder and a fieldpiece occupied 
the northeast shore of Sullivan's Island while Colonel 
Moultrie, with 344 men of the Second South Carolina 
regiment, and a company of volunteer artillerists occupied 
the fort, making a total of something more than 1,000 
men for the defense of the island. June 28, 1776, a com- 
bined attack was made on Sullivan Island by the British 
fleet and General Clinton, who had landed on Long Island, 
adjacent to Sullivan with 400 or 500 men and attempted to 
cross the narrow channel separating the two. Thompson's 
men were stationed to oppose their passage and in the face 
of adverse winds and leaky boats, the attempt was aban- 
doned. The vessels kept up an incessant but ineffectual 
fcre all day, and during the night withdrew, leaving one 
of their number, the Acteon, aground in the harbor to be 
abandoned and burned the next day. Moultrie's men 
within the fort returned the fire of the fleet with vigor. 
The British loss was 64 killed and 141 wounded; that of 
the Americans was 12 killed and 25 wounded, 5 mortally. 
An incident of the battle was the replacing, by Sergeant 
Jasper, of a flag which had been shot from the bastion 
of the fort. After undergoing repairs the fleet left Charles- 
ton, the troops being transported to New York. 

Long Island — [August 27, 1776]] — After the evacuation 
of Boston by the British, Washington placed the town in 
a state of security, and leaving General Ward with five 
regiments to guard against any sudden attack, proceeded 
to the Highlands of the Hudson and disposed his forces 
for the defense of New York. July 2, 1776, General Howe 
arrived from Halifax and took possession of Staten Island, 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 37 

at the entrance of New York Harbor, where he was soon 
joined by his brother, Admiral Lord Howe, from England 
with a fleet and a land force. 

Many Loyalists also enlisted under his standard and 
were organized into companies and regiments. Sir Henry 
Clinton and Lord Cornwallis arrived from the South with 
the force lately sent from England, after their ineffectual 
attempt to close the port of Charleston, S. C, and by the 
first of August arrivals of Hessian troops had increased 
the force under Howe to nearly 30,000. General Charles 
Lee entered New York with Southern troops the same day 
that Clinton arrived at Sandy Hook. The troops under 
Washington's command numbered about 17,000. His 
headquarters were at Newburgh, 60 miles above New 
York. The passages to the City by the way of the North 
and East Rivers were defended by intrenchments, chains, 
sunken vessels and other obstructions. The enemy's ap- 
proach by way of Long Island was guarded against by a 
line of fortifications, extending from the Narrows (the 
channel which separates Staten Island from Long Island), 
to the village of Jamaica, 10 miles to the northeast. These 
were occupied by about 5,000 men under command of 
General Greene. August 22, 1776, 10,000 men and 40 
cannon were landed by the British on Long Island near 
New Utrecht, between the present Fort Hamilton, and 
Gravesend. On the 25th, Lieutenant General De Heister 
crossed from Staten Island with two brigades of Hessians 
and proceeded to Flatbush. General Greene was taken 
sick and General Israel Putnam was placed in the com- 
mand of the American forces on Long Island. 

On the morning of August 27, 1776, Major General 
Grant, commanding the left wing of the British Army, ad- 
vanced with the Fourth and Sixth brigades, the Forty- 
second regiment, and two companies of tories toward 



38 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Brooklyn. He was met by General Stirling, with 1,500 men, 
of Haslett's (Del.), Smallwood's (Md.), and Atlee's (Pa.), 
regiments, who had been sent out by Putnam to oppose his 
advance. Clinton, commanding the British right, consist- 
ing of the light dragoons, light infantry, the reserve, under 
Cornwallis and the Seventy-first regiment with 14 field- 
pieces, followed by the main body of the army under Lord 
Percy, moved from Flatlands by a circuitous route, and, 
gaining the high ground near Bedford, turned the Ameri- 
ican left dispersing and driving toward Brooklyn the regi- 
ments which had been stationed at that end of the Ameri- 
can line. General Sullivan, who had been dispatched to 
strengthen the American left, encountered De Heister 
and the Hessians on the Flatbush road. Clinton came to 
the support of De Heister and sent Cornwallis to the as- 
sistance of Grant. Sullivan, attacked by Clinton and De 
Heister, was overpowered and forced to surrender. 

Upon the approach of Cornwallis, Stirling, who had been 
reinforced by Kitchline's riflemen and Carpenter's battery 
of two fieldpieces, ordered a retreat toward Gowanus 
Creek, about half the Maryland regiment remaining to op- 
pose Cornwallis until the arrival to his support of De Heis- 
ter, when they surrendered. The loss of the Americans, 
in killed, wounded and missing, was between 1,100 and 
1,200 men, more than a thousand of whom, including Gen- 
erals Stirling and Sullivan, were prisoners in the enemy's 
camp. The British loss was 63 killed, 283 wounded, and 23 
taken prisoners. 

The entire strength of the Americans on Long Island 
did not exceed 5,000, while near 15,000 of the enemy were 
engaged. On the night of August 29, the remainder of 
Putnam's division was quietly withdrawn from Long Isl- 
and across the East River under cover of a dense fog and 
conducted to the extreme northern end of Manhattan Isl- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 39 

and, where the main body of the American army was en- 
camped, and General Alexander McDougal succeeded Put- 
nam in command. The defeat on Long Island had a de- 
pressing effect on the army and the cause of American In- 
dependence. 

Harlem — [Sept. 16, 1776] — After the withdrawal of the 
American troops from Long Island, the main body of the 
army was encamped on the high and rocky ridge which ex- 
tends along the upper west side of Manhattan Island on 
which the city of New York is situated. The British ships 
had gradually made their way up the East River, and on 
the 15th of September, 1776, they landed a small force at 
Kip's Bay, and extended their lines across the island north- 
westerly to Vandewater's Heights thence northerly to 
Manhattanville. September 16, Washington ordered an 
attack on the British outposts by Colonel Knowlton of 
Connecticut and Major Leitch of Virginia. The second 
and Third battalions of British light infantry and the For- 
ty-second regiment of Highlanders under Colonel Leslie 
were ordered up. Richardson's, and part of Griffith's 
Maryland regiments, and some detachments of eastern 
regiments were sent to the support of Knowlton. 

The British were thrice forced to retreat, finally making 
a stand on the hill where Columbia University now stands. 
The Americans then retired to their own lines. 

The loss to the Americans was Colonel Knowlton and 16 
privates killed; Major Leitch and about 40 privates wound- 
ed. The British loss was 14 men killed and about 80 wound- 
ed. The effect of this battle was to revive the spirits of the 
American Army and restore public confidence in the 
officers. 

Lake Champlain — [Oct. 11 and 13, 1776] — After the de- 
feat of the expeditions against Canada General Gates was 
assigned to the command of the Northern army. Fearing 






40 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 



the British would follow the retreating Americans south 
of the St. Lawrence River, Gates concentrated his forces 
at Fort Ticonderoga. He also had built a fleet of vessels 
consisting of a sloop mounting 12 guns, one schooner of 
12 and two of 8 guns each and five gondolas of 3 guns 
each. These were anchored across Lake Champlain from 
Windmill Point, and placed under the command of Bene- 
dict Arnold with General David Waterbury, Jr., next in 
rank. Suffering from lack of able seamen and gunners 
and menaced by Governor General Guy Carlton, who was 
advancing from Quebec with a strong squadron, Arnold 
retired to Valcour's Island, south of Plattsburg, and an- 
chored across the channel between the island and the west 
shore of the lake. Meantime his fleet had been strength- 
ened by the addition of a sloop, three galleys, three gon- 
dolas and twenty-one gunboats. 

Early on the morning of Oct. 11, 1776, the British 
squadron, consisting of a ship mounting 18 guns; a snow, 
18 guns; one schooner of 14 guns; two schooners of 12; 
two sloops ; a bomb ketch ; a rideau, 14 guns ; a gondola, 
7 9-pounders ; twenty-four gun boats and four long boats, 
each with a single gun, swept around the island and took 
a position south of Arnold's fleet. The vessels were man- 
ned by 700 experienced seamen from Quebec under Cap- 
tain Pringle, and carried a considerable land force. The 
engagement began between 10 and 11 o'clock in the morn- 
ing and continued until dark. The American vessels were 
badly managed, only one schooner and two galleys getting 
under way, the others remaining at anchor. The schooner, 
the Royal Savage, was beached and burned, and the other 
vessels suffered heavily. The American loss in killed and 
wounded amounted to about 60. After dark the badly 
battered fleet made its way through the British lines and 
sailed for Crown Point. 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 41 

Carleton's squadron gave pursuit next morning and the 
following day (Oct. 13) overtook and captured the Wash- 
ington with General Waterbury and 110 men, and the 
Congress was run aground and burned, Arnold and some 
of his men who were aboard, reaching Crown Point by 
land. Two schooners, two galleys, a sloop and a gondola 
alone escaped of all the fleet. General Waterbury and 
the other prisoners taken on the Washington were paroled 
next day. No complete report of the losses on either side 
was made. 

White Plains— [Oct. 28, 1776]— After the battle of Har- 
lem Heights, in which Washington was enabled to main- 
tain his ground in the face of the British attack, General 
Howe's war ships advanced up the East River and landed 
troops at Frog's Point (also known as Throckmorton's or 
Throck's Neck, now Throgg's Neck), and attempted to 
gain a position in Washington's rear and thus cut him off 
from communication with the army outside of New York. 
At the same time Captain Hyde Parker proceeded up the 
Hudson River to Tarrytown for the purpose of enlisting 
and organizing the Tories of Westchester County and co- 
operating with Howe. When the intention of the enemy 
became manifest, it was decided in the Continental Army 
to retreat to White Plains, about 16 miles north of the 
camp at Kingsbridge. This was accomplished between the 
21st and 26th of October. Breastworks were thrown up 
and occupied on the high ground to the northwest and 
northeast of the village and on the lower ground extending 
from the Bronx River to Willet's Pond. On the morning 
of October 28, 1776, about 4,000 British under Generals 
Clinton and Howe were sent to dislodge some 1,400 Ameri- 
cans who were intrenched on Chatterton Hill, on the west 
side of the Bronx River and southwest of the main lines of 
redoubt. After a short and sharp skirmish, the Americans 



42 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

fell back in good order to the body of the army. During 
the engagement General Spencer, with some 2,000 Eastern 
troops, who had been sent to check the enemy's progress, 
was routed by the Hessians under Colonel Rahl at Hart's 
Corners. The Continentals engaged at Chatterton Hill 
were Colonel Haslett's Delaware regiment. Smallwood's 
Marylanders, Webb's Connecticut and skeletons of the 
first and third New York, under Colonel Ritzema, Colonel 
Brooks, Massachusetts, and a party of militia under Colon- 
el Rufus Putnam, the whole under the command of General 
Alexander McDougal. The British engaged consisted of 
the Hessian regiments of Knyphausen, Lossberg, Rahl, 
Linsing, Mingerode, Lengereck and Kockler, a corps of 
chasseurs and four regiments of British regulars under 
General Leslie. 

The American loss was 163, of whom 59 were killed, 65 
wounded and 39 taken prisoners. The loss to the British 
and Hessians was 102 killed and 129 wounded, a total of 
231. On the night after the battle the American lines were 
drawn further to the north, and during the night of the 31st 
of October the army retreated to a strong position about 
two miles north of White Plains. November 4, Howe with- 
drew from White Plains and crossed to the Hudson River 
at Dobbs Ferry and soon after proceeded against Fort 
Washington. 

Fort Washington, Capture of— [Nov. 16, 1776]— At 
the northern end of Manhattan Island, on the rocky 
heights overlooking the Hudson River, the Americans had 
erected a strong central work about ten miles north of the 
city of New York, between the present 180th and 186th 
streets. South of this, across the island from the Hudson 
to the Harlem River, three lines of intrenchments were 
built, about a half mile apart, near the lines of One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-first, One Hundred and Sixtieth and One 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 43 

Hundred and Seventieth Streets. On the bank of the Hud- 
son River below the fort was a redoubt intended to cover 
the obstructions in the channel of the river between that 
point and Fort Lee on the New Jersey side. Half a mile 
north of the fort was a redoubt mounting two guns, now 
known as Fort George. Two more guns were mounted at 
Cock Hill Fort, the extreme northern point of the Island. 
Opposite, across the Spuyten Duyvel Kill, was Fort Inde- 
pendence. Batteries and redoubts were placed along the 
Kingsbridge road, at Manhattanville, and along the 
heights west from the Harlem River. Fort Washing- 
ton and its dependencies covered an area of about 
three square miles. After defeating the Americans at 
White Plains, and extending his lines westward to 
the Hudson River at Dobbs Ferry, General Howe 
proceeded to the attack of Fort Washington. The 
garrison numbered not more than 1,200 men on the morn- 
ing of the British attack, and 1,500 militia were sent to re- 
inforce them during the day. On the morning of Novem- 
ber 16, 1776, Colonel Patterson of the British army sent in 
a summons to surrender. Colonel Magaw, in command of 
Fort Washington, returned a spirited refusal and disposed 
his forces for defense. Colonel Cadwalader's regiment, 
about 800 strong, was posted in the lower lines. Rawlings' 
riflemen were stationed in the redoubt north of the fort and 
in the Cock Hill Fort and Colonel Baxter's militia were 
placed along the Harlem River. Four attacks were made 
almost simultaneously by the British. Lord Percy, with 
three Brigades advanced from Yorkville against the in- 
trenchments, while Colonel Stirling with the Forty-second 
regiment, crossed the Harlem River and landed within the 
second line. Cadwalader was driven back toward the Fort, 
while the First and Second battalions of light infantry, 
and two battalions of guards under General Mathew came 



44 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

down the Harlem River in flatboats, and supported by the 
First and Second Grenadiers and the Thirty-third regiment 
under Lord Cornwallis, attacked the militia. Colonel Bax- 
ter was killed and the militia fell back toward the fort, 
Knyphausen's Hessians attacked the works from the 
Kingsbridge side. Colonel Rahl led the advance and com- 
pelled Rawlings' riflemen to retire to the fort, when Colon- 
el Magaw, finding resistance useless, surrendered himself 
and the garrison prisoners of war. The loss to the Ameri- 
cans in killed was 54, including Colonels Baxter and Miller 
and Lieutenants Harrison and Tannihill; the wounded 
numbered 93, including Colonel Rawlings, Major Williams 
and Lieutenant Hanson. The return of prisoners made to 
the British War Office showed 4 colonels, 4 lieutenant 
colonels, 5 majors, 46 captains, 107 lieutenants, 31 ensigns, 
1 chaplain, 2 adjutants, 2 quartermasters, 5 surgeons, 2 
commissaries, 1 engineer, 1 wagonmaster, and 2,607 pri- 
vates, besides 55 pieces of ordnance. The loss to the British 
and Hessians was 79 killed, 375 wounded and 6 missing, 
a total of 460. This was the most severe loss the American 
cause had sustained during the war, and was followed by 
the evacuation of Fort Lee and the retreat through New 
Jersey. 

Trenton— [Dec. 26, 1776]— The loss of Fort Wash- 
ington was speedily followed by the evacuation of Fort 
Lee, N. J., on the opposite bank of the Hudson River. 
Washington retreated with the remnants of his army 
through New Jersey, and crossed the Delaware River into 
Pennsylvania where he arrived December 8, with only 
about 3,000 men left, and established his camp at New- 
town. The disasters in the vicinity of New York had dis- 
couraged the army as well as the civilian population, and 
while the army was growing smaller through wholesale 
desertions, many of the citizens were taking advantage of 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 45 

General Howe's proclamations and swearing allegiance to 
the Crown. Jealousy and dissatisfaction pervaded the army 
and the cause of American Independence looked dark to 
the most stout hearted patriot. General Charles Lee, sec- 
ond in command of the Continental Army, became a pris- 
oner in the hands of the British, December 12, and his 
division was added to that of Washington. The Eastern 
Pennsylvania militia, encamped at Bristol under General 
Cadwalader, and opposite Trenton under General Ewing, 
with three regiments from Ticonderoga increased Wash- 
ington's force to about 6,000 effective men. General Howe, 
pursuing Washington through New Jersey, had estab- 
lished cantonments at Princeton, Pennington, Trenton, 
Bordentown, and Burlington, with a strong body at New 
Brunswick, ready to move in any direction on short notice. 
Washington planned an attack on the British centre at 
Trenton which was held by Colonel Rahl, with three bat- 
talions of Hessians. The time selected for the attack was 
the night of December 25, 1776. General Ewing, with the 
militia, was to cross the Delaware below Trenton, Wash- 
ington was to cross at McKonkey's Ferry, about nine miles 
above Trenton ; the two were to unite in an attack on the 
Hessians; while Cadwalader was to cross at Bristol and at- 
tack the outposts at Bordentown, Burlington, Blackhorse 
and Mount Holly. The troops, selected for the service 
numbered 2,400, and began to embark at dusk, but owing 
to the floating ice the full force was not landed till nearly 
four o'clock the next morning. The two divisions, one un- 
der command of General Sullivan and the other under 
General Greene, with whom were Generals Washington, 
Stirling, Mercer and Stephen, entered Trenton from the 
west and north respectively about 8 o'clock on the morn- 
ing of the 26th. Sullivan's advance was led by Captain 
William A. Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe, 



46 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

and Greene's by Colonel John Stark. The Hessians were 
taken by surprise, and after a weak resistance, attempted 
to escape along the banks of the Assanpink Creek, and 
reach Princeton. Colonel Hand's riflemen and a body 
of Virginia troops cut off this means of escape, and 
Colonel Rahl having received a mortal gun wound, 
the Hessians surrendered as prisoners of war. About 
250 of Rahl's men fled at the beginning of the fight 
and reached Bordentown in safety. The loss to the 
Americans was 2 men killed in action, 2 frozen to 
death before the battle and 3 wounded; the loss to the 
enemy was about 30 killed, including Colonel Rahl, and 918 
prisoners. The trophies of the victory included 1,000 stand 
of arms, six brass canon and three ammunition wagons. 

Generals Cadwalader and Ewing with the militia failed 
to cross the river and, owing to the strength of the sur- 
rounding posts, Washington returned with the prisoners 
and trophies to the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware. 
The news of this victory raised the hopes of the discour- 
aged Americans, and the year 1776 closed with a resolute 
determination to maintain the struggle till independence 
was secured. 

Princeton — [Jan. 3, 1777] — The loss of Trenton deter- 
mined General Howe to abandon all the British outposts 
along the Delaware and concentrate the body of the army, 
about 10,000 strong, at Princeton under command of Lord 
Cornwallis. Washington recrossed the Delaware, Decem- 
ber 30, 1776, and took post at Trenton, where he was join- 
ed by Generals Cadwalader and Miffln with 3,600 Pennsyl- 
vania militia, swelling his force to 9,000. Leaving the 
Seventeenth, Fortieth and Fifty-fifth regiments of the 
fourth brigade at Princeton under General Mawhood, and 
the second brigade, under General Leslie, at Maidenhead, 
Cornwallis started to attack Washington at Trenton. The 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 47 

American army moved to the south bank of the Assanpink 
Creek, which runs through Trenton, and strong parties 
were sent out to harass the approaching enemy. About 
4 o'clock in the afternoon Cornwallis reached the Assan- 
pink, and, being unable to cross, encamped opposite the 
American army to await reinforcements from Princeton. 
During the night the Americans broke camp under 
direction of General St. Clair, and sending the bag- 
gage to Burlington for safety, proceeded by a newly 
made road toward Princeton. When opposite the 
Quaker meeting-house near Princeton, early in the 
morning of the 3rd, they encountered Colonel Maw- 
hood with the Seventeenth and Fifty-fifth regiments 
on the old post road south of the bridge over the 
Millstone River. Mawhood immediately wheeled and 
attempted to gain a position near the residence of Will- 
iam Clark and possibly unite with the Fortieth regiment. 
His movement was intercepted by General Mercer, with 
the remnants of his "flying camp" of riflemen. After a 
sharp engagement, during which General Mercer and Col- 
onels Haslett and Potter were mortally wounded, the rifle- 
men gave way under a charge of Mawhood's men. The 
arrival of the main body of Americans under Wash- 
ington checked the retreat, and, under a heavy fire from 
Moulder's battery and Hitchcock's brigade, Mawhood 
gained the desired position near the Clark house, whence 
he was driven by the first troop of Philadelphia cavalry, led 
by Washington in person. Mawhood, with the Seventeenth 
regiment, then retreated toward Trenton while the Fifty- 
fifth retired to the village of Princeton and took refuge in 
the college buildings ; the Fortieth regiment, which took 
little part in the action, and part of the Fifty-fifth fled 
toward New Brunswick. Washington pursued as far as 
Kingston and then proceeded north to Morristown, New 



48 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Jersey, where he established winter quarters and remained 
until the following May. Cornwallis, finding that he had 
been outgeneraled by Washington, returned from Trenton. 
But as the Americans had destroyed the bridge over Stony 
Brook, he arrived too late to take part in the battle, 
and withdrew all the British forces to New Brunswick and 
sent detachments to Elizabethtown, and Amboy. 

The loss to the Americans in the battle of Princeton in- 
cluded General Mercer, Colonels Haslett and Potter, Cap- 
tains Neil and Flemming, and 4 or 5 other officers and 25 
or 30 privates, a total of between 35 and 40 killed; the Brit- 
ish loss was 18 killed, 58 wounded and 1,001 missing. Some 
of those reported missing later joined their regiments, 
though Washington sent about 300 prisoners to his former 
camp across the Delaware. The result of this battle was 
to relieve Philadelphia of any immediate danger of attack 
from the British and to establish American authority in 
New Jersey. 

Ridgefield, Conn.— [April 27, 1777]— During the latter 
part of 1776 and the early months of 1777, the 
Commissioners of the Continental Army had stored 
in Danbury, Connecticut, 1,800 barrels of meat, 700 bar- 
rels of flour, 2,000 bushels of grain, 1,700 tents, and cloth- 
ing for a regiment. In April, 1777, William Tryon, the 
royal governor of New York, who had been commissioned 
a British Major General, planned the seizure of these sup- 
plies. For this purpose about 2,000 men, 250 each from 
the Fourth, Fifteenth, Twenty-third, Twenty-seventh, 
Forty-fourth and Sixty-fourth regiments and 300 men 
from Brown's provincials, together with some light 
dragoons and fieldpieces were placed at his dispo- 
sal, all under the immediate command of Generals 
Agnew and Erskine. Tryon's expedition, under convoy of 
two frigates, landed at Cedar Point, or Crompo Point, on 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 49 

Long Island Sound, just east of Norwalk, Conn., April 25th 
and proceeded overland to Danbury, twenty miles north, 
where they arrived the following afternoon. About 150 
Continentals under Colonel Cook, who were guarding the 
stores, retired before the British advance. During the 
night Tryon's men destroyed all the supplies, and burned 
the residences of nineteen patriots, and the next morning 
started for the transports at Norwalk. 

As soon as intelligence of the landing of the British 
reached General Gold Selleck Silliman, at his home at 
Ridgefield, he assembled some 500 militiamen, and having 
been joined by Generals Arnold and David Wooster, with 
more militia, he encamped on the night of the 26th at Beth- 
el, two miles from Danbury. Early on the morning of the 
27th Arnold and Silliman took post at Ridgefield and 
threw up a temporary breastwork across the road 
leading to Danbury. Tryon's army, advancing down 
this road, was harrassed in the rear by Wooster, 
with 200 men, who took forty prisoners, and was 
himself mortally wounded. The main body of the 
British under General Agnew advanced toward the 
breastwork, and flanking parties were sent out to turn 
Arnold's left. After an hour's fighting, in which some thirty 
of the British were killed or wounded Arnold retreated and 
Tryon gained the high ground about a mile south of the 
Congregational meeting house in Fairfield. Early on the 
morning of the 28th the British resumed their march har- 
assed by the increased number of Colonials, who fired upon 
the retreating foe from behind stone walls, barns and 
houses. At Crompo hill the embarkation of the troops was 
covered by a charge of 400 men led by General Erskine 
against the columns of Arnold and Silliman. 

The British loss in the expedition against Danbury was 
about 200 men killed and wounded; the American loss was 



50 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

20 killed and 40 wounded. The Continental Congress 
erected a monument to the memory of General Wooster, 
and presented a horse to General Arnold, in recognition of 
their services at Ridgefield. 

Hubbardton, Vt.— [July 7, 1777]— In June, 1777, Gener- 
al Burgoyne set out from Quebec with an army of 7,500 
men, consisting of 3,500 British and 4,000 Hessians and 
Brunswick Chasseurs, to recover the points taken by the 
Americans in Canada and in the vicinity of Lake Cham- 
plain and along the Hudson river. Securing the co-opera- 
tion of the Six Nations of Indians and being joined by 200 
Canadians he proceeded toward Albany, with instructions 
to join Howe at New York. The Americans had abandoned 
Canada and the upper Lake Champlain region for lack of 
men to garrison the posts. Upon Burgoyne's arrival be- 
fore Crown Point the small garrison there retreated to 
Ticonderoga, which was held by General Arthur St. Clair 
with about 2,000 men, poorly armed and totally inadequate 
for the defense of so extensive a work. A small detach- 
ment occupied the old French lines north of the fort, an- 
other the saw mills on the site of the present village of Ti- 
conderoga, and a third occupied Grenadier's Battery on the 
Point. The garrison in the star fort on Mt. Independence, 
on the eastern shore of the lake, opposite Ticonderoga, was 
well supplied with artillery and its approaches were well 
guarded by batteries and abatis. July 3, General Frazer, 
with three brigades of British, occupied Mt. Hope, to the 
north of these works, and on the night of July 4, Mt. De- 
fiance, on the south side of the entrance to Lake George, 
was occupied and a battery erected which commanded the 
buildings at both Ticonderoga and Mt. Independence. St. 
Clair and his officers, satisfied that the garrison was too 
weak to withstand an attack, decided upon a retreat. On 
the night of the 5th the guns were spiked and the ammuni- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 51 

tion and stores were placed aboard bateaux and conveyed 
to Skenesborough (Whitehall), at the southern extremity 
of the Lake. The garrison of Ticonderoga crossed the 
pontoon bridge to Mount Independence and the whole 
force started for Skenesborough by way of Castleton, Vt. 
The dawn of the 6th disclosed the American flight to the 
British. Burgoyne pursued the bateaux to Skenesborough, 
where most of them were burned by the Americans to pre- 
vent their falling into the enemy's hands. General Frazer, 
with his brigade, and General Riedesel, with his corps of 
Hessians, started in pursuit of St. Clair's army. On the 
morning of July 7 Frazer came up with the rear guard of 
the Americans, consisting of the regiments of Colonels 
Warner and Francis and a regiment of militia under Colon- 
el Hale, aggregating about 1,200 men, in the southeastern 
part of Hubbardton, Vt., near where the road from Ticon- 
deroga crosses that from Skenesborough to Crown Point. 
Both armies attempted to gain advantageous positions and 
a stubborn battle was fought. The militia fled at the begin- 
ning of the action, leaving only 700 men to hold the 
ground, and two regiments which had advanced two miles 
beyond refused to return to the support of Warner and 
Francis. The British were held in check until the arrival of 
General Riedesel and the Hessian corps, when the Amer- 
icans broke and fled, some over the Pittsford mountain 
and others down the valley to Castleton. The British loss 
in this engagement was 203 men, including Major Grant, 
and the Americans', 324 killed, wounded and missing. Col- 
onel Francis was killed while rallying his men. The loss 
of Ticonderoga and the defeat of its supporting army was 
a severe blow to the American cause, as communication 
between New York and Quebec was open by way of the 
Hudson and St. Lawrence rivers, and New York State, 
Western Massachusetts and Vermont seemed to be in the 



52 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

hands of the enemy. A committee of Congress, after inves- 
tigation, found the officers blameless and the loss of the 
position due to an inadequate number of men and too few 
provisions to justify the calling for reinforcements. 

Oriskany, N. Y. — [August 6, 1777] — In the Summer of 
1777, when General Burgoyne started out to recover the 
points in Canada and the Lake Champlain region which 
had been taken by the Americans, he detached Lieutenant 
Colonel Barry St. Leger with the Eighth and Thirty-fourth 
regiments at Montreal, with instructions to proceed up the 
St. Lawrence river, through Lake Ontario, and to operate 
in western and Central New York, and ultimately to join 
the main army under Howe at New York. At Oswego, 
St. Leger was joined by the Royal Greens and other bodies 
of royalists under Sir John Johnson, Colonels Daniel Claus 
and John Butler and a large body of Indians under Chief 
Joseph Brant, the entire force numbering 1,700 men exclu- 
sive of axemen and other non-combatants. St Leger's 
first object of attack was Fort Schuyler (formerly Stan- 
wix), on the Mohawk River, in Oneida County, on the site 
of the present city of Rome, where a garrison of less than 
100 men had been posted under Colonels Marinus Willet 
and Peter Gansevoort. 

August 2, 1777, St. Leger's advance guard invested the 
fort, and the main body arriving the next day, a summons 
to surrender was sent into the fort, and upon its rejection, 
active operations were begun on the 4th. By this time 
Brigadier General Herkimer had rallied the militia of 
Tryon county at Fort Dayton, now Herkimer, and with 
about 800 men started for the relief of Fort Schuyler. They 
crossed the river at Utica, and on August 5th encamped 
at Oriskany, near Whitesborough, about eight miles from 
the beleagured fort. St. Leger having been apprised of 
the approach of the militia, it was determined to attack 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 53 

them from ambush. A part of the Royal Greens and the 
entire body of Indians took up a position about two miles 
west of Oriskany and six from Whitesborough, where a 
deep marshy ravine crosses the road on which the militia 
were advancing. On each side of this ravine the ground 
was heavily timbered and covered with a thick growth of 
shrubbery. Here the Indians and loyalists concealed 
themselves. About six o'clock on the morning of the 6th, 
as the militia were crossing the ravine on their march to 
the fort the war-whoop resounded and a torrent of rifle 
balls rained upon the astonished troops and threatened 
them with annihilation. General Herkimer was mortally 
wounded and had his horse shot under him, but continued 
to direct the defense. After three-quarters of an hour of 
hand-to-hand fighting a violent thunderstorm arrested the 
work of the combatants for an hour, when the fight was re- 
newed at close quarters. Many of the Royal Greens were 
former neighbors of the militiamen and as each party re- 
cognized their assailants the fighting grew more furious 
and deadly. The Indians suffered severely and soon began 
to disappear, and the loyalists, deserted by their allies, re- 
treated leaving the Tryon county militia masters of the 
field at two o'clock in the afternoon. In the meantime 
Colonel Willet, with 250 men and a small fieldpiece, made a 
sortie from the fort and captured the camps of St. Leger 
and the Indians, with their baggage and papers, driving 
the loyalists across the river and the Indians to the woods, 
without the loss of a single man. The militia dispersed 
after the battle and General Schuyler ordered General 
Larned with his brigade of Massachusetts troops, and Gen- 
eral Arnold with the first New York regiment to the re- 
lief of the fort, and St. Leger retreated to Montreal. The 
number of Indians and loyalists slain in this battle was 
never positively known. The militia had 200 killed. 



54 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Bennington— [August 16, 1777] — In August, 1777, Gen- 
eral Burgoyne sent an expedition from his camp at Fort 
Edward on the upper Hudson to forage for provisions and 
horses in the New Hampshire land grant, now Vermont, 
and to encourage the loyalist sentiment which he believed 
prevailed in that locality. For this purpose he detached 
Colonel Riedesel's Brunswick dragoons, Frazer's Rangers, 
Peter's Tory troops and a body of Canadians and Indians, 
the whole numbering 486 men, under the command of the 
Hessian Lieutenant Colonel Baume. Burgoyne, with the 
main body of the army moved along the east bank of the 
Hudson River in order to assist Baume and hold any ad- 
vantage gained. August 14, Baume arrived at Van 
Schaick's Mill, on the Wallomscoick, near North Hoosic. 
The small American guard there retired before him, 
leaving seventy-eight barrels of flour, a thousand bush- 
els of wheat and twenty-three barrels of salt. In- 
telligence of the enemy's approach having reached 
Bennington, Colonel John Stark, who had been given 
the title of Brigadier General by the General Court 
of New Hampshire, assembled his brigade and the 
Bennington militia sent for Warner's regiment, then 
stationed at Manchester, and on August 14, with Col- 
onels Warner (without command), Williams, Herrick and 
Brush, set out to meet the enemy. About five miles north- 
west of Bennington he came up with Colonel Gregg who 
had been sent ahead with 200 men. Gregg was retreating 
before the British, and the two armies halted and ma- 
noeuvred for position. Stark fell back about a mile, and the 
next day being rainy no attack was made until the after- 
noon of the 16th. Stark's force had been swelled to about 
1,600 men, arranged in three divisions, two of which, under 
Colonels Nichols and Herrick, were to turn the enemy's 
left and right, respectively, and join in an attack on the 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 55 

rear, while the third, under Colonels Hubbard and Stick- 
ney, attacked the front of Baume's command. The Indians 
fled early in the afternoon and after two hours of hard fight- 
ing the whites were forced to yield. After Baume's force 
gave way Colonel Breyman, who had been ordered to 
Baume's support, arrived with the Brunswick grenadiers, 
light infantry and chasseurs, about 500 in number. War- 
ner's regiment arriving from Manchester about the same 
time the two armies were reformed for a second contest. 
Fighting continued until sunset, when the British retreated 
toward Saratoga, pursued by Warner and Stark. The 
British loss was 207 killed, and near 700 prisoners, the lat- 
ter inculding Lieutenant Colonel Baume and 43 other 
officers. The American loss was 30 killed and 40 wounded. 
Brandywine Creek— [Sept. 11, 1775]— In the latter 
part of May, 1777, Washington left Morristown, N. J., 
where he had been in Winter quarters, and took up a posi- 
tion north of the Raritan River near Middlebrook, N. J. 
General Howe, having received reinforcements from Eng- 
land, left New Brunswick, embarked the main body ot ms 
army and sailed for Chesapeake Bay, with the intention of 
taking Philadelphia from the south, having failed to reach 
the Colonial capital by way of New Jersey. Proceeding up 
the bay, the British army, consisting of about 18,000 men, 
landed August 25, at the head of the Elk river, 50 miles 
from Philadelphia, where Elkton, Maryland, now stands. 
Washington, having been joined by the Marquis de Lafay- 
ette, Baron de Kalb and Count Pulaski, disposed his forces 
for the defense of the capital. The nominal strength of the 
American army was 14,000 men, though only about 11,000 
were considered effective. Howe's advance was slow. On 
Sept. 3, Cornwallis' column, composed of the Hessian and 
Anspach chasseurs and light infantry, encountered 1,000 
Americans, whom they defeated, with a loss of 3 men killed 



56 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

and 21 wounded. Probably as many as 50 Ameri- 
cans were killed in this engagement. Little further 
opposition was met until the main body of the Amer- 
icans was encountered on the north bank of the 
Brandywine Creek, near Chadd's Ford, about thirty 
miles southwest of Philadelphia. Early on the morn- 
ing of September 11, the British advanced in two divisions. 
The right wing, commanded by General Knyphausen, was 
composed of four battalions of Hessians under General 
Stern, the first and second brigades of regulars, three bat- 
talions of the 71st regiment, the Queen's Rangers, part of 
the 16th dragoons under General Grant, with six 12-pound- 
ers, four howitzers and the light artillery, the whole num- 
bering about 5,000 men. Knyphausen advanced directly to- 
ward the American center at Chadd's Ford, while Corn- 
wallis, with the left wing, composed of the 16th dragoons, 
two battalions of light infantry, two battalions of British 
and three of Hessian Grenadiers, the 3rd and 4th brigades 
of regulars, two battalions of guards and the chasseurs, 
numbering about 13,000 men, with four 12-pounders, 
moved along the Lancaster road parallel with the creek, 
crossed the west branch at Trimble's Ford and the east 
branch of Jeffries' Ford, and passing down the Dilworth 
road, turned the right flank of the American Army. Gen- 
eral Sullivan and the French General, Deborre, opposed 
the British advance at Osborne Hill until, overpowered 
by superior numbers, they fell back into the ranks of Gen- 
eral Greene, who, with Washington, and the brigades of 
Weedon and Muhlenberg, was advancing to their support. 
The nature and extent of Cornwallis' movement becoming 
known to Washington, the whole army was ordered to re- 
treat. The Americans lost about 1,000 in killed, wounded 
and missing, besides all their artillery; the British loss, 
including the skirmish of September 3rd, was 93 killed, 509 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 57 

wounded and 6 missing, a total of only 618. The next 
night the defeated American army retired to Chester and 
on the 13th they went into camp at Germantown. 

Bemis Heights — [Sept. 19, 1777] — Toward the Autumn 
of 1777, the condition of Burgoyne's army in the upper 
Hudson valley began to grow serious. Provisions were 
growing short and foraging was attended with great haz- 
ard, as the farmers had secured their crops and were com- 
ing into camp in large numbers from Massachusetts, Con- 
necticut and New York. General Horatio Gates who had 
been sent by Congress to succeed Schuyler in command of 
the Northern army, was encamped with about 3,000 men 
near Stillwater, Saratoga county, N. Y., with his right 
resting on the Hudson river, left extending over and be- 
yond Bemis Heights. On September 13 and 14 Burgoyne 
crossed from the east to the west side of the Hudson river 
with about 3,500 men to the plain of Saratoga, about nine 
miles north of the American lines. The stores were em- 
barked in bateaux and floated down the river, while the 
army proceeded southward to within two miles of the 
American lines. In the afternoon of September 19, a gen- 
eral advance was made by the British, The left wing, com- 
posed of Hessia is (except Breyman's riflemen, who were 
on the right), and the artillery led by Generals Riedesel 
and Phillips, marched along the Great Northern Road at 
the foot of the heights; the right, led by General Frazer, 
Major Ackland and the Earl of Balcarras, by a circuitous 
route attempted to pass the head of the intervening ravines 
and secure a position which would enable them to cover 
the advance of the centre and left. The right of the British 
line encountered Morgan's riflemen, led by Major Morris, 
and a detachment of light infantry under Major Dearborn. 
The riflemen were scattered and beaten back with the loss 
of Captain Swearingen and 20 men. General Arnold, with 



58 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the regiments of Colonels Scammel and Cilley; the Second 
New Hampshire, under Colonel Hale; the New York 
troops under Colonels Pierce Van Courtlandt and James 
and Henry Livingston ; the Massachusetts regiments under 
Colonels Bailey, Weston, Jackson and Marshall, and the 
Connecticut militia under Colonels Cook and Latimer at- 
tacked the British centre, commanded by Burgoyne in per- 
son and George Hamilton. For four hours the stubborn 
fight was carried on. Darkness put an end to the conflict 
and the Americans retired regularly from the field with- 
out pursuit. The British army retained the ground, both 
parties claiming the victory. The British loss was about 
600 killed and wounded, the 62nd regiment, which left 
Canada with 500 men, coming out of the battle with less 
than 60 effective men and only four of five officers. The 
American loss was 65 killed, including two lieutenantcolon- 
els, 3 captains and 1 lieutenant; 218 wounded, among them 
being 6 captains and 14 lieutenants, and 38 missing, includ- 
ing 1 captain and 1 lieutenant, a total of 321. 

Bemis Heights, Second Battle— [Oct. 7, 1777] — 
From Sept. 20, to Oct. 7, the two armies retained the posi- 
tions they held after the action of September 19, and so 
close were the lines that not a single night passed without 
firing. October 7, Burgoyne, in despair of receiving help 
from New York, determined to attack the American lines, 
partly to see if it was possible to force a passage around 
the left and partly to recover a forage, as his army was 
short on rations. Burgoyne, with Generals Phillips, Ried- 
esel and Frazer, moved with a detachment of 1,500 men, 
two 12-pounders, two howitzers and six 6-pounders, to 
within a quarter of a mile of the American line, when their 
left end was attacked by General Poor's brigade, com- 
posed of the First, Second and Third New Hampshire 
troops, two New York and two Connecticut regiments, 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 59 

while General Morgan attacked the right. The grena- 
diers and German troops gave way before Major Dear- 
born's light infantry, and General Frazer was mortally 
wounded while leading a detachment to their assistance. 
Arnold led the American attack on the centre, which was 
defended by Lord Balcarras and Colonel Breyman. The 
intrenchments of the Germans were taken and held by 
Lieutenant Colonel Brooks at the head of a part of Jack- 
son's regiment, and darkness again put an end to the fight, 
leaving the Americans undisputed masters of the field. 
During the night Burgoyne withdrew his army to a more 
advantageous position, and Gates sent detachments to his 
rear and to the east bank of the Hudson to cut off retreat. 
Burgoyne succeeded in getting as far north as Schuyler- 
ville, Saratoga County, on the north side of Fish Creek, 
where, completely surrounded by the American forces, his 
army disheartened and needy, he was forced to surrender 
October 17, 1777. The total number of men surrendered 
by Burgoyne was 5,763, together with 27 cannon, 5,000 
stand of arms, and large quantities of ammunition. 

The effect of this surrender was to break the power of 
Great Britain in the northern colonies. British sympathiz- 
ers were silenced and critics of the Continental Armies be- 
came their ardent supporters. In the British Parliament, 
Earls Chatham, Temple, Coventry and the Duke of Rich- 
mond in the Lords, and Fox, Burke and Barre in the 
House led a strong opposition to the Government's Amer- 
ican policy, and a friendly interest in the struggle for Am- 
erican Independence was manifested in France, Spain, 
Holland and Russia. The prisoners were marched to Bos- 
ton and transported to England on condition of their not 
serving again in North America in the present contest. 

Paoli Massacre — [Sept. 20, 1777] — After the retreat 
from Brandywine, Washington retired to German- 



60 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

town, and after a day's rest, recrossed the Schuylkill River, 
and, taking the Lancaster road, met the enemy on Septem- 
ber 16, near Warren's tavern, about twenty-three miles 
from Philadelphia. The American advance under General 
Anthony Wayne, made the attack, but a rainstorm put an 
end to the fighting and the Americans retired, first to Yel- 
low Springs and later to the Northeast side of the Schuyl- 
kill, to await ammunition. Before crossing the river, Gen- 
eral Wayne was detached with 1500 men and four cannon, 
to harass the enemy's rear, and if possible, cut off his bag- 
gage train. Howe's army was encamped near the Tredyf- 
frin meeting house, and Wayne by a secret march through 
the woods, took a secluded position about three miles 
southwest from his lines, and a little more than two miles 
southwest of the Paoli tavern. Disloyal Americans of the 
neighborhood apprised Howe of Wayne's position, and the 
former sent Major General Grey with three regiments to 
cut him off. Though under arms, and prepared to move 
against the British should they take the road leading to the 
Schuylkill, Wayne's troops were surprised on the night of 
September 20 by Grey's detachment, which approached 
stealthily through the woods and forced the sentries by the 
bayonet, and rushing upon the encampment about mid- 
night, by the light of the camp fires killed about 300 
men and took between 70 and 80 prisoners. The others, on 
account of the previous preparations to move, escaped with 
the cannon. Many were killed with the utmost barbarity 
after resistance on their part had ceased. So slight was the 
defense made by the Americans that only 4 British were 
killed and 4 wounded. 

Philadelphia, Occupation of— [Sept. 26, 1777]— The 
defeat of Washington's army at Brandywine Creek, 
and the disaster to Wayne's force at Paoli rendered Howe's 
occupation of Philadelphia merely a successful manoeuvre. 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 61 

September 25, the British Army went into camp in Ger- 
mantown, and the next day Cornwallis was sent to occupy 
Philadelphia, which he did without opposition. Admiral 
Sir William Howe immediately withdrew his fleet from the 
Chesapeake Bay and entered the Delaware for the purpose 
of taking the forts at Red Bank and Mud Island and join- 
ing his brother in Philadelphia. 

Germantown — [Oct. 4, 1777] — After the American de- 
feat at Brandywine Creek and the British occupation of 
Philadelphia, Washington determined to attack the main 
body of Howe's army, which was quartered in German- 
town, a suburb of Philadelphia. The American army was 
encamped at Pennebeck Mill on the Skippack Creek, about 
fourteen miles northwest of the Germantown camp. Con- 
tinental troops who were serving at distant posts were 
called in and further requisitions were made on the militia 
of Pennsylvania and the adjoining States, until the 
strength of the American army reached about 10,000 men. 
On the evening of October 3, 1777, the line of march to 
Germantown was taken up. The approach to the village 
was by four roads, three of which converged at the Brit- 
ish camp, and the other extended within a few minutes 
march of it. The left wing of the British army extended 
from the Main street to the Schuylkill River and was com- 
posed of seven British and three Hessian battalions flank- 
ed by the Hessian chasseurs and commanded by Lieuten- 
ant-General Knyphausen, Major Generals Stirn and Grey 
and Brigadier General Agnew; the right wing extended 
from the Main street to a wood about a mile from town 
and was composed of the corps of guards, six regiments of 
British troops and two squadrons of dragoons flanked by 
the first battalion of light infantry and a corps of the 
Queen's American Rangers, commanded by Lieutenant 
Colonel Simcoe, the command of the wing being vested 



62 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

in Generals Grant and Matthew. Washington's plan of at- 
tack was for the divisions under Sullivan and Wayne, 
flanked by Conway's brigade, to enter the village by the 
Main street and attack the centre and left of the enemy; 
while General Armstrong, with about 1,000 Pennsylvania 
militia, was to pass down a parallel road to the westward 
of the Main street, cross an intervening creek and attack 
the rear and left wing; the divisions under Generals Greene 
and Stephens flanked by McDougall's brigade, was to 
pass down a third road parallel to and east of the Main 
street, and attack the right wing; the New Jersey and 
Maryland militia, commanded by Generals Forman and 
Smallwood were to pass down another road, still further 
east, turn the British right and make an attack on the rear; 
the brigades of Generals Nash and Maxwell acted as a 
reserve under General Lord Stirling. Washington march- 
ed with Sullivan's division. At sunrise on the morning 
of the 4th, the first encounter took place at Mount Airy, 
about two miles above the centre of the village. 

About a mile further on Lieutenant Colonel Mulgrave 
with six companies of the Fortieth British regulars took 
refuge in Chief Justice Chew's house and fired upon and 
killed Lieutenant Smith of Virginia, who bore a flag sum- 
moning them to surrender. Maxwell's brigade laid siege to 
the house and their firing in the rear of the advancing 
army, and the dense fog which prevailed at the time con- 
cealed from each division the successful operations of the 
other and caused a misunderstanding among the officers 
and confusion in the ranks. The entire plan of attack was 
successful and the British had been steadily forced back 
when, after three hours of hard fighting, the Americans re- 
tired in confusion. The British did not make pursuit, but 
retired to Philadelphia and the Americans regained their 
camp at Metuchen Hill. The American loss was 673 killed 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 63 

and wounded, and some 400 prisoners. The British loss 
was reported as 535, including General Agnew, though 800 
is claimed to be a more approximate figure. 

Forts Clinton and Montgomery, Loss of — [Oct. 6, 1777] 
— October 3, 1777, General Sir Henry Clinton, by order of 
General Howe, started an expedition of 3,000 men from 
New York city up the Hudson River to join Burgoyne's 
army, which was being hard pressed by General Gates near 
Saratoga. General Putnam was in command of the Ameri- 
can posts on the lower Hudson. His headquarters were 
near Peekskill and his chief forces consisted of 1,200 Conti- 
nental troops and 300 Connecticut and New York militia. 
At the time of Clinton's expedition these were mostly fur- 
loughed for the Fall harvest. Forts Clinton and Mont- 
gomery were situated on the west side of the Hudson 
River about midway between Peekskill and West Point. 

They occupied high points of the Highlands and 
were separated by Poplopen Creek. Fort Montgomery 
was a large unfinished work north of the creek. The 
garrison consisted of one company of artillery, a few 
regulars, and some half armed militia under Colonel 
Lamb. A heavy chain and boom were stretched 
across the river from here to the promontory known 
as Anthony's Nose. Fort Clinton was south of the 
mouth of the creek, thoroughly built, 123 feet above 
the river and manned by a few regulars and militia 
under Brigadier General James Clinton. October 5, a de- 
tachment of 400 tories was landed at Verplanck's Point, 
deceiving General Putnam as to the real object of the ex- 
pedition. Governor George Clinton, who was at Kingston 
attending the Legislature, adjourned that body and under- 
took the defense of Fort Montgomery, having under his 
command some 800 men. 

On the morning of October 6, the main body of the ex- 



64 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

pedition was landed at Stony Point, nearly opposite Ver- 
planck's Point, and, pushing forward, seized the pass of the 
Dunderberg Mountain, marched around its foot to the rear 
of Fort Montgomery. Governor Clinton sent out small 
parties under Lieutenant Jackson and Lieutenant Colonels 
Bruyn and McLaughry from Fort Clinton and Captain 
Fenno from Fort Montgomery to check the enemy, but 
they where driven back. Late in the afternoon both forts 
were assaulted simultaneously. A strong resistance was 
made, but the garrisons were forced to yield to superior 
numbers. Governor George Clinton and General James 
Clinton escaped with about 200 men. The loss to the Am- 
ericans was about 250 men killed, wounded and missing. 
The British loss was about 40 killed, including Lieutenant 
Colonel Campbell, Count Grabowski, a Polish nobleman 
serving as an aide-de-camp to Sir Henry Clinton ; Majors 
Sill and Grant, and about 150 wounded. After the los? of 
these forts General Putnam abandoned Peekskill. 

Fort Mercer, Attack on — [Oct. 22, 1777] — Immediately 
after the occupation of Philadelphia by Sir "William 
Howe the fleet, under his brother, Admiral Lord Howe, 
was withdrawn from the Chesapeake Bay and sailed up the 
Delaware, with the intention of forming a junction with 
the army at Philadelphia. Washington was encamped with 
the main body of the Americans at Metuchen Hill, twenty 
miles northwest of the city, and controlled the navigation 
of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Just below the 
mouth of the latter stream and on the opposite side of the 
Delaware, at Red Bank, N. J., was Fort Mercer, a strong 
redoubt in command of Colonel Christopher Greene, with 
his Rhode Island regiment and a few militia, numbering in 
all about 400 men. On the Pennsylvania side of the Dela- 
ware, below where it receives the waters of the Schuylkill, 
was Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island. It was garrisoned by a 



i 




o 



w 
u 

CO 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 65 

Maryland regiment about 300 strong under command of 
Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith. Across the river be- 
tween these two forts were stretched chains and booms and 
cheveaux de frise, while the Pennsylvania naval militia un- 
der command of Commodore John Hazelwood patrolled 
the waters above the works. After several ineffectual at- 
tempts the British succeeded in getting possession of Prov- 
ince Island, between Mud Island and the Pennsylvania 
shore. Admiral Howe arrived at New Castle, Del., early in 
October, and a combined land and water attack on the forts 
was planned. Count Donop with 1,200 Hessians crossed 
the Delaware at Cooper's Ferry, and marched against the 
fort in two columns, attacking it on the north and south 
sides, late in the afternoon of October 22. The attack lasted 
an hour and the assailants were repulsed with a loss of 
about 400, 70 of whom (including some of their best offi- 
cers), were killed. Count Donop was mortally wounded. 
The American casualties were 14 killed and 21 wounded. 
The naval vessels failed to arrive in time to take part in 
the operations, and on their retreat after the action, two of 
them were burned. 

Fort Mifflin— [Nov. 10-15, 1777] — After the disastrous 
attempt to capture Fort Mercer the British turned their at- 
tention to Fort Mifflin. Situated on Mud Island, seven 
miles below Philadelphia, this fort commanded all the ob- 
structions which prevented a junction of the British land 
and water forces. The garrison consisted of about 300 
Maryland Continentals, and 150 Pennsylvania troops, 
under Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, of Baltimore. 
The British had succeeded in establishing themselves on 
Province Island, and mounting powerful batteries not more 
than 500 yards from the American works. On the morn- 
ing of November 10, 1777, two new batteries, mounting 
four 32-pounders, six 24-pounders and a 13-inch mortar, to- 



66 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

gether with those which had before been employed, opened 
a furious fire on the fort. Firing continued at intervals for 
several days. On November 15, a combined attack was 
made by the British naval and military forces. The Somer- 
set, ship of the line ; Isis, 50 guns ; Roebuck, 44 guns ; Pearl, 
32; the frigate Liverpool, the Cornwallis galley, advanced 
to the attack, and the Vigilant, an armed ship of 16 guns, 
with a a hulk mounting three 18-pounders, passed into the 
channel between Province Island and Mud Island, 
within a hundred yards of the works. Colonel Smith was 
wounded and Major Thayer took command. Major Fleury, 
under whose direction the works were thrown up, was 
wounded, and Captain Treat, commanding the artillery, 
was killed. The Pennsylvania naval militia rendered no 
assistance to the fort, and after the action the vessels were 
abandoned and burned. The block houses and palisades 
were beaten down, the ramparts destroyed and the guns 
dismounted. At 11 o'clock at night the garrison set fire to 
the ruins and retreated to Fort Mercer, after a loss of 250 
killed and wounded. The next morning Mud Island was 
occupied by the Royal Guards. The British loss was re- 
ported as 13 killed and 24 wounded. 

Whitemarsh — [Dec. 5 and 8, 1777] — After the action 
at Germantown, Washington withdrew the American 
army to Perkiomen Creek, where he remained until Octo- 
ber 30. Here he was joined by General Varnum and his 
brigade of Rhode Island troops, about 1,200 in number, and 
about 1,000 Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia troops. 
With this reinforcement the army advanced early in Nov- 
ember to Whitemarsh, Montgomery County, Pa., about 
15 miles northeast of Philadelphia, and took up a posi- 
tion with the right resting on Wissahicon Creek and left 
on Sandy Run. On the night of December 4, 1777, General 
Howe, leaving a small detachment of men to guard the city 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 67 

of Philadelphia marched the main body of his army to 
Chestnut Hill, about three miles from Washington's right 
wing. Howe's advance was commanded by Lieutenant 
General Cornwallis and the main body .by Lieutenant 
General Knyphausen. When the British position was as- 
certained, General James Irvine with 600 Pennsylvania 
militia was sent out from Washington's right to attack the 
British light infantry under Lieutenant Colonel Abercrom- 
bie. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which General Irvine and 
5 men were wounded and taken prisoners. The British 
lost 12 men, among whom was Sir James Murray. Sun- 
day morning, Dec. 7, the British Army was shifted to Edge 
Hill, a mile from the left end of the American line, and 
formed in a semi-circle around Washington's army. Oppos- 
ing Howe's line were Colonel Morgan's riflemen and Col- 
onel Mordecai Gist's Maryland militia on the right, while 
Webb's Continental regiment, supported by Gen. Potter's 
Pennsylvania brigade, opposed the left. After a sharp skir- 
mish Morgan and Gist were driven from their position by 
Cornwallis with a loss of 44 men. On the left wing the 
American light troops, under Generals Potter, Reed and 
Cadwalader and Colonel Webb, gave way before the Hes- 
sians, tories and light British troops under Major General 
Grey, with a loss of near 50 men. 

The main body of Howe's army advanced to within a 
half mile of the American lines. A general engagement 
now seemed inevitable, but on the evening of Dec. 8, the 
British abandoned the position and withdrew to Philadel- 
phia. The Americans did not make pursuit, but remained 
at Whitemarsh for a few days longer and then marched to 
Valley Forge, eight miles distant, and went into camp for 
the Winter. The loss of the Americans in the skirmish at 
Whitemarsh aggregated 100 men, that of the British about 
60. 



68 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Randolph, Loss of— [March 7, 1778]— Dec. 13, 1775, 
Congress passed a law providing for the construction and 
equipment of thirteen ships of the line and a number of 
frigates. 

Under the provisions of this law the Randolph, a 
frigate of 32 guns, was built in Philadelphia, and placed un- 
der the command of Captain Nicholas Biddle, who had 
been in command of the Camden, a galley, and the Andrew 
Doria, a brig of 14 guns, cruising off the banks of New- 
foundland and near Boston Harbor. Biddle sailed out of 
Philadelphia in the Randolph in February, 1777. After he 
had taken four British West Indiamen, and sent them into 
Charleston, S. C, in charge of prize crews, the State of 
South Carolina fitted out a squadron of small vessels — 
the General Moultrie, 18 guns, Captain Sullivan; the Polly, 
16 guns, Captain Anthony; the Notre Dame, 16 guns, Cap- 
tain Hall; the Fair American, 14 guns, Captain Morgan — 
and placed them under Biddle's command. This fleet left 
Charleston early in February, 1778, and, cruising in the 
vicinity of Barbados, sent in one prize, and on March 7, 
about 50 leagues eastward of Barbados, fell in with the 
British ship Yarmouth, 64 guns, Captain Vincent. The 
Randolph and General Moultrie engaged the stranger, and 
after twenty minutes of fighting, during which Captain 
Biddle was wounded, the Randolph suddenly blew up, 
covering her antagonist with debris. All on board were lost 
except four men who were picked up by the Yarmouth five 
days later. They told the story of the battle but were un- 
able to give any reason for the explosion of the Randolph. 

Quintin's Bridge— [March 18, 1778]— While the Amer- 
ican army was in camp at Valley Forge, General Wayne 
was sent to New Jersey to procure horses and provisions. 
The British commanders in Philadelphia also sent similar 
expeditions to New Jersey. The local militia were inade- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 69 

quate to cope with the foraging parties, and the people had 
to submit tamely to depredations of both armies. March 
12, 1778, Colonel Mawhood left Philadelphia with about 
1,200 men, consisting of two regiments of British regulars 
and a regiment of New Jersey volunteers and Simcoe's 
Rangers, the two latter tories, on a foraging trip. Dropping 
down the Delaware they reached Salem, N. J. About five 
miles southeast of this place, at the eastern end of Quin- 
tin's bridge, the central one of three which spanned Allo- 
way's Creek, Colonel Holmes was stationed with some 200 
militia. Colonel Mawhood and Major Simcoe led about 370 
rangers and British to a wood west of the bridge and on 
the 18th, with a small party decoyed the militia across the 
stream. Then turning upon them in full force the British 
and tories bayoneted or drove into the creek and drowned 
twenty and took ten prisoners, with the loss of one hussar, 
mortally wounded. The disparity in the numbers of the op- 
posing parties and a comparison of the casualties, taken in 
consideration with other circumstances of this conflict, 
clearly point to a massacre rather than a battle. 

Hancock's Bridge— [March 21, 1778]— Soon after the 
return of Colonel Mawhood from Quintin's bridge to Sa- 
lem he decided to attack the militia on guard at Hancock's 
bridge, the lower one of the three crossing Alloway's 
Creek, about five miles from Salem. Major Simcoe, with 
his rangers and the Jersey volunteers, about 300, all tories, 
reached the village at the end of the bridge on the morning 
of March 21, 1778. The main body of the militia had been 
removed on the 19th, leaving only 20 men to guard the 
place. These were all put to the bayonet, with the excep- 
tion of one, who escaped. Mr. Hancock and his brother, 
both tories, and other peaceable inhabitants, were also 
massacred. The assailants met with no resistance. 

Crooked Billet— [May 1, 1778]— In the latter part of 



70 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

April, 1778, General Lacey was stationed at Crooked Bil- 
let, Montgomery County, Pa., with the remains of General 
Potter's militia, at that time reduced to 53 men fit for duty. 
May 1, 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie, with 100 
British light infantry and a body of dragoons, proceeded 
along the road leading to Valley Forge and concealed 
themselves in a wood near Lacey's encampment. At the 
same time Major Simcoe, with 300 Queen's Rangers, by a 
circuitous march gained the road leading from Philadelphia 
to York. General Lacey, surprised and surrounded by su- 
perior numbers, abandoned his baggage and escaped 
through the woods with a loss of 30 killed and 17 wounded. 
Only nine of the British were wounded. The British and 
tories acted with great cruelty toward their fallen foes. 

Cobelskill — [June 1, 1778] — The patriotic settlers of 
Schoharie County, N. Y., though distant from the seat of 
war, early organized for defense against their tory neigh- 
bors and hostile Indians enlisted in the British cause. Three 
forts were erected in the Schoharie Valley — the Upper 
Fort, in the present town of Fulton, the Middle Fort, near 
Middlebury, and the Lower Fort, in Schoharie Village. 
The settlers on the Cobelskill organized a militia company 
with Christian Brown as captain. These were reinforced 
in the Spring of 1778 by Captain Patrick, of Alden's Massa- 
chusetts regiment, with a small party of volunteers, and 
the whole force, numbering 30 regulars and 15 militia, pro- 
ceeded against the Indians and tories who had been gather- 
ing in the county under the leadership of Chief Brant and 
Service. June 1, they encountered about 400 tories and 
Indians in the method of warfare common to the latter. 
Captain Patrick was wounded, captured and killed, and 
Captain Brown ordered a retreat The Americans lost 22 
killed, 2 wounded and 2 prisoners. The enemy's loss was 
25 killed and 7 mortally wounded. 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 71 

Monmouth — [June 28, 1778] — February 6, 1778, a treaty 
of alliance was entered into between the United States and 
France. In June of that year news of the departure of a 
French fleet and army for America compelled Sir Henry 
Clinton, who had suceeded Howe in command of the Brit- 
ish forces, to unite the two main divisions of his army in 
New York. With the main body of the army, numbering 
11,000 men, Clinton left Philadelphia June 18, and began 
the march through New Jersey, General Knyphausen and 
theHessians in the advance with the baggage train. Intelli- 
gence of Clinton's movements reached Valley Forge at 
11 o'clock in the morning of the 18th and by 3 o'clock in 
the afternoon three brigades of Washington's army were in 
pursuit. They crossed the Delaware at Coryell's Ferry, 
now the site of the New Hope and Lambertsville bridge. 
By June 26, the whole of Clinton's army had arrived at 
Freehold, Monmouth County, while the Americans, under 
command of Washington, Lee, Wayne, Greene, Lafayette, 
Steuben, Paterson, Poor, Maxwell, Morgan, Duportail and 
Scott, who had been harassing the march, halted at Cran- 
berry, and the advance guard took a position on the Free- 
hold road, within five miles of the enemy's rear. By the 
27th Clinton had taken up a position extending from a 
mile and a half beyond the courthouse to the parting of the 
roads leading to Middletown and Shrewsbury; his left 
lay along the road from Allentown to Monmouth, within a 
dozen miles of Middletown Heights, on attaining which 
Washington had little hope of successful action against 
him. It was therefore decided that on his first movement 
toward the Heights a general attack should be made. Gen- 
eral Lee was charged with its execution, and moved from 
Englishtown toward the enemy on the morning of the 28th 
with 5,000 men. Clinton, to protect his baggage train, re- 
formed his forces on the plain near Freehold, seeing which 



72 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Lee ordered a retreat, which soon became a precipitate 
flight. Washington, coming up with the left wing of the 
army, met the retreating detachment, and, severely repri- 
manding Lee, formed the left wing on the high ground be- 
tween the meeting house and the bridge across Wenrock 
Creek under Lord Sterling to check the retreat. 

General Wayne, with the regiments of Stewart and Ram- 
say held a position near the parsonage against repeated at- 
tacks by British grenadiers. After attacks on different 
parts of the reformed American lines Clinton retired to the 
secure position he had held at the beginning of the action. 
During the night Clinton advanced to near Middletown, 
and pursuit was deemed impracticable. The British loss 
was reported as 65 killed, 56 dead of fatigue, 170 wounded 
and 68 missing, though the Americans reported burying 
249 men, left dead on the field. The American loss was 69 
killed and 161 wounded. 

Wyoming — [July 3, 1778] — The Wyoming Valley is the 
name given to about twenty miles of the valley of the Sus- 
quehanna extending northeast and southwest through 
Luzerne County, Pa. It was settled principally by Mora- 
vians from Connecticut, who acknowledged allegiance to 
that State and during the War of the Revolution the troops 
raised in the valley were credited to Connecticut's quota. 
Those who remained at home built some half dozen forts 
along the river for defense against Indians and tories and 
organized six companies of militia aggregating about 300 
men under command of Colonel Zebulon Butler. 

June 30, 1778, about 400 tories consisting of Johnson's 
Royal Greens and John Butler's Rangers, with about 600 
Indians, entered the head of the valley, fresh from the mas- 
sacre in Schoharie County, N. Y., and killed four men and 
captured three others. The next day they took possession 
of one of the forts and made a demand on Colonel Zebulon 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 73 

Butler for the surrender of the valley. In response, Butler, 
on July 3, with his 350 militia, mostly old men and boys, 
marched out of Forty Fort, about three miles above Wilkes 
Barre, to give battle to the invaders. The two parties met 
about five miles farther up the valley and after half an 
hour's fighting the Americans began a disorderly retreat 
toward the river. Many were killed in hand to hand con- 
flicts during retreat and others were shot while trying to 
swim the stream or dragged from the water and toma- 
hawked. Colonel John Butler, the tory leader, reported 
the taking of 227 scalps and only 5 prisoners. Colonel 
Zebulon Butler and 140 Americans escaped. The British 
loss was reported by John Butler as 2 rangers and 1 Indian 
killed and 8 Indians wounded. 

Kaskaskia — [July 4, 1778] — The vast wilderness be- 
tween the Alleghany Mountains and the Mississippi River, 
the great lakes and the Ohio River, more extensive than 
many of the principalities of the old world, contained but 
few settlements of white men during the Revolutionary 
War. These were isolated and settled by people of dif- 
ferent races who had few characteristics in common. The 
pioneers along the Ohio were emigrants from Virginia 
and the Carolinas. Those along the Mississippi and the 
great lakes were largely French settlers who had followed 
in the trail of the Jesuit explorers, together with the Eng- 
lish soldiers and a few merchants who came in with the 
British conquest of New France. 

George Rogers Clark, a Virginian who had settled in 
Kentucky, conceived the idea of securing to the new re- 
public allegiance of all these isolated villages. He jour- 
neyed back to Virginia and obtained from Governor Pat- 
rick Henry authority to raise an expedition with this ob- 
ject. In the spring of 1778 he started, and by May 27, he 
had gained the falls of the Ohio, where he formed a set- 



74 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

tlement, since grown into the city of Louisville, Ky. Con- 
tinuing down the Ohio toward the Mississippi he landed 
at a point on the north bank nearly opposite the mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Here he was joined by a party of 
hunters who informed him that Fort Kaskaska, the goal 
of his expedition, was in the hands of General Rocheblave, 
who was loyal to the British King. 

Clark proceeded overland northwest through forests 
and over prairies, to where the Kaskaskia River empties 
into the Mississippi. The village occupied the point of 
land just north of the confluence of the two rivers. Ar- 
riving on the south side of the river on the evening of July 
4, 1778 he ferried his men across in the darkness and sur- 
rounded the fort, where a ball was in progress. The pio- 
neer hunter stepped inside the ballroom and stilled the 
panic his presence caused by bidding the merrymakers 
dance on, but dance as free citizens of Virginia and not as 
subjects of the British king. The French swore allegiance 
to the new republic, but Rocheblave was sent a prisoner 
to Virginia. The taking of Kaskaskia was complete and 
bloodless. Cahokia and Vincennes followed the example 
of Kaskaskia and raised the American flag. 

Quaker Hill, R. I.— [August 29, 1778]— During July, 
1778, Washington, having advanced his headquarters to 
White Plains, N. Y., resolved to attack the British at New- 
port, R. L, where General Pigott was stationed with some 
6,000 men, well intrenched and protected by seven ships 
of the line and several smaller vessels. General Sullivan 
was encamped at Providence with 10,000 Americans em- 
bracing the brigades of Generals Cornell, Greene, Lovell, 
Titcomb, Glover and Varnum, and militia from Massa- 
chusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. 

Count D'Estaing had arrived off Point Judith in Long 
Island Sound, five miles from Newport, on July 29, 1778, 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 75 

with a fleet of 12 ships and 4 frigates. On August 5, the 
French fleet surrounded and cut off the retreat of the Brit- 
ish vessels which had protected Newport, and they were 
burned or sunk to prevent capture. The French ships, as 
well as a portion of Admiral Howe's fleet, which had been 
sent to protect Pigot, were seriously damaged by a vio- 
lent storm which raged for three days. The movement 
of the American forces against Newport began on August 
15, under direction of Generals Sullivan, Lafayette, and 
Greene. On the morning of the 29th, the American army 
occupied Quaker Hill and Turkey Hill, w r hence they were 
driven with difficulty. The French fleet had sailed for 
Boston for repairs. General Sullivan retired to Provi- 
dence. The British casualties were 38 killed, 210 wounded 
and 12 missing. The Americans lost 30 killed, 137 
wounded, and 44 missing. The next morning 130 sail ap- 
peared, bringing Clinton's army to the rescue of the gar- 
rison. 

Fort Boone, Siege of — [August 8 — 20, 1778] — During 
the Summer of 1778, Governor Hamilton, the British com- 
mander of Fort Detroit, sent an expedition, consisting of 
a dozen French Canadians and 44 Indians, under com- 
mand of Captain Duquesne to take possession of Fort 
Boone, a frontier post on the south side of the Kentucky 
River in Madison County, Ky., about thirty-six miles 
southeast of Frankfort. August 8, 1778, Duquesne's party 
demanded the surrender of the garrison. Daniel Boone, 
with less than 50 men, held the stockade, and defied the 
assailants. Failing to entrap the Americans through 
strategy, Duquesne maintained a heavy fire against them 
for nine days, and then, on the 20th, retired to the woods, 
having lost 37 killed, besides many wounded. Of the gar- 
rison two men were killed and 4 wounded. 

Tappan, Massacre at— [Sept. 27, 1778]— After the Bat- 



76 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

tie of Monmouth, Sir Henry Clinton, having the main body 
of the British Army in New York, sent out strong forag- 
ing parties to procure supplies for an expedition which he 
contemplated sending to southern ports. Washington 
had advanced to White Plains, leaving General Wayne 
west of the Hudson, to oppose Cornwallis' foraging party. 
Part of Wayne's command, composed of New Jersey mili- 
tia under General Wind, was quartered in the village of 
New Tappan, Rockland County, N. Y., the remainder, a 
regiment of Virginia light horse known as "Mrs. Washing- 
ton's Guards," numbering 100, under Colonel Baylor, were 
at Old Tappan, or Harrington, near the Hackensack River, 
about two and a half miles southwest from the main body. 

On the evening of Sept. 26, 1778, a detachment of Corn- 
wallis' command, consisting of the Second light infantry, 
second battalion of grenadiers, and Thirty-third and Sixty- 
fourth regiments, numbering 362 men, under General 
Grey, who conducted the Paoli massacre, stole upon Bay- 
lor's sleeping troopers after bayoneting the guards and put 
to death upward of 100 men, undressed and unarmed, beg- 
ging for compassion, and incapable of resistance. 

Raleigh, Loss of— [Sept. 27, 1778]— On the afternoon 
of Sept. 27, 1778, the United States frigate Raleigh, 32 
guns, Captain John Barry, from Boston, with a brig and 
a sloop under convoy, was overtaken off the coast of 
Maine by the British ships Experiment, 50 guns, Captain 
Wallace, and Unicorn, 22 guns. A running fight was kept 
up until 2 o'clock the next morning, when the Raleigh was 
run aground on Fox's Island in Penobscot Bay. The next 
day she was taken off by the British with 3 dead and 22 
wounded, the remainder of the crew having escaped. Ten 
men were killed on board the Unicorn. 

Pulaski's Men, Massacre of— [Oct. 15, 1778]— Little Egg 
Harbor, N. J., on the southeastern coast of New Jersey, 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 77 

became known as a rendezvous for privateers during 1778, 
and Captain Collins was sent with the British sloop-of- 
war Zebra, the Vigilant, the Nautilus and half a dozen 
smaller vessels to occupy the port in October of that year, 
while Captain Ferguson, with 300 British regulars and the 
Third New Jersey Volunteers, accompanied them to oper- 
ate inland. When the movement against Little Egg Har- 
bor became known, Count Pulaski was sent from Trenton 
with three incomplete companies of light infantry, three 
troops of light horse and a company of artillery with a 
brass fieldpiece to defend the place. 

On the night of Oct. 14, 1778, Ferguson, having been 
informed of Pulaski's position by a French deserter from 
the American army, rowed up the river about ten miles, 
to where the three companies of infantry were quartered. 
With 200 men Ferguson surprised the Americans at 4 
o'clock the next morning, and disregarding cries for quar- 
ter, some 50 were massacred and 5 taken prisoners. At 
the first alarm Count Pulaski hurried forward and the as- 
sailants fled, with a loss of 5 men killed, wounded and 
missing. 

Pigot, Capture of— [Oct. 28, 1778]— After the destruc- 
tion of the British vessels in Narragansett Bay, the royal 
authorities of Rhode Island equipped a schooner with 
twelve 8-pounders, manned her with a crew of 45 men un- 
der Lieutenant Dunlap of the Royal Navy, named her the 
Pigot, in honor of the royal governor, and stationed her 
in the east or seacoast passage, between the island of 
Rhode Island and the main land. Early in the morning of 
October 28, 1778, Major Silas Talbot, on board a small 
coasting sloop named the Hawk, manned by 60 men, sur- 
prised the Pigot, drove her crew to their quarters and 
boarded the vessel and compelled her surrender. So auda- 
cious and sudden was the attack that the British were 



78 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

thrown into confusion and surrendered without the loss of 
a man on either side. The vessel was taken to Stonington, 
Conn, and the prisoners marched to Providence, R. I. 

Cherry Valley Massacre — [Nov. 11, 1778] — In the 
spring of 1778, General Lafayette ordered a fort built at 
Cherry Valley village, Otsego County, N. Y., about thir- 
teen miles northeast of Cooperstown, and Colonel Ichabod 
Alder was stationed there with a party of Continental 
troops. During the summer the Indians menaced the vil- 
lage and the whites took refuge in the fort and gathered 
their crops under military guard. In the fall the Indians 
withdrew and the settlers returned to their homes. Cap- 
tain Walter Butler, son of Colonel John Butler, with a 
party of 50 British regulars under Captain Colville, as 
many of Johnson's Rangers and 200 tories, met the 
Indians on the way to their Winter quarters, and 
induced Joseph Brant and 500 Senecas to return to Cherry 
Valley. Nov. 11, 1778, the Indians and tories surprised 
the garrison and settlers and massacred 32 of the inhabi- 
tants, mostly women and children, and 11 Continental 
soldiers. The prisoners taken were 17 soldiers, and 70 
non-combatants, 40 of whom were later returned. All the 
houses and barns in the settlement, with their contents, 
were burned. 

Savannah, Capture of — [Dec. 29, 1778] — During the 
years 1776, 1777 and 1778, the royalists had mostly been 
driven from Georgia and South Carolina and had taken 
refuge in Florida. The refugees, with a detachment of 
British regulars, under command of Major General Pre- 
vost, in the spring of 1778, threatened an invasion of 
Georgia. To oppose them General Robert Howe, in com- 
mand of the southern division of the Continental Army, 
moved his headquarters from Charleston to Savannah. 
His command numbered about 550 men, and being joined 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 79 

by the commands of Colonels Pinckney, Bull and Will- 
iamson and by Governor Houston, with 350 militia, he 
advanced to Fort Tonyn, on the St. Mary's River. The 
Governor of Georgia here refused to obey General Howe's 
orders and his example was followed by Colonel William- 
son and Commodore Bowen and the expedition was aban- 
doned, the militia returning to their homes. 

Nov. 27, 1778, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell was dis- 
patched from New York for Savannah with 3,500 men, 
under convoy of Commander Hyde Parker. The troops 
reached Tybee Island, fifteen miles from Savannah, Dec. 
23. On the 29th they debarked at Giradeau's levee and 
proceeded by way of a causeway leading through a rice 
swamp toward the city. When the approach of the Brit- 
ish became known, General Howe, then at Sunbury, about 
thirty miles from Savannah, with less than 700 men, hast- 
ened to the defense of the city. He took up a position 
southeast of the town with his center on the main road 
leading from Giradeau's. The right wing consisted of 
Colonels Huger's and Thompson's South Carolinians and 
100 Georgia riflemen under Colonel George Walton and 
the left of Georgia militia under Colonel Elbert, the whole 
force now numbering, with militia, about 1,200 men. By 
a successful manoeuvre the Americans were surrounded. 
Colonel Walton, was captured with most of his command, 
while Colonel Huger and General Howe with their com- 
mands retreated across the causeway and through the 
swamp. Many were drowned and more were taken pris- 
oners. The British loss was officially reported as 1 of- 
ficer and 2 privates killed, and 1 officer and 9 privates 
wounded. Eighty-three Americans dead and 11 wounded 
were found on the field, 38 officers and 415 privates were 
taken prisoners, while the others retreated up the Savan- 
nah River and reached South Carolina. Forty-eight can- 



80 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

non, 23 mortars, 94 barrels of powder and a large quan- 
tity of provisions fell into the hands of the British. 

Beaufort, S. C— [Feb. 3, 1779]— The British occupa- 
tion of Savannah was soon followed by the surrender of 
Sunbury and Augusta and the generally peaceful submis- 
sion of the Georgia people to British authority. General 
Prevost, commanded about 3,500 royal troops, exclusive 
of tories. Early in 1779 he determined on an invasion of 
South Carolina, and sent Major Gardiner with about 200 
men to occupy the island of Port Royal, in the Broad 
River, about seventy-five miles southwest of Charleston. 
General Howe, after his defeat at Savannah, had crossed 
the Savannah River with his small force and joined General 
Lincoln at Purysburg, S. C. Their united forces numbered 
3,639 men, of whom 1,211 were deemed inefficient, and 
only 1,121 were regulars, the others being raw militia. 
When the news of the British advance to Port Royal Is- 
land reached General Lincoln he sent Colonel William 
Moultrie to lead the South Carolina militia to the defense 
of the island. Feb. 2, 1779, Moultrie, with about 300 
Charleston militia under General Bull, with two field- 
pieces, and Captain De Treville, of the Continental Army, 
with a brass two-pounder, two officers and six privates, 
crossed to the island and entered Beaufort on the 3rd. 
Intelligence of Major Gardiner's approach having been re- 
ceived, Moultrie's men promptly advanced to meet him. 
The two parties met in the afternoon and after a spirited 
engagement of less than an hour the British made a hasty 
retreat. Owing to lack of ammunition little attempt at 
pursuit was made. The American loss was 8 men killed 
and 22 wounded. The British lost about half of their 
force of 200 in killed, wounded and prisoners. 
■ Kettle Creek— [Feb. 14, 1779]— The occupation of Au- 
gusta and Savannah, Ga., by the King's troops greatly en- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 81 

couraged the loyalists of Georgia and the Carolinas, and 
Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton of North Carolina was sent 
through the western frontier of the three states to pro- 
claim the authority of the King and invite recruits. Col- 
onel Boyd raised a party of about 700 tories in the western 
Carolinas and started for Augusta. Boyd succeeded in 
crossing the Savannah into Wilkes County, Ga., where, 
on the morning of Feb. 14, 1779, he was surprised by Col- 
onel Andrew Pickens and Colonel Dooley with 300 men. 
Boyd rallied his men and fought for nearly an hour, but 
he was wounded and his command scattered, some 300 
later reaching Augusta. About 40 of the tories were killed, 
many others wounded and 75 captured. Of the prisoners 
5 were executed for treason, and the others pardoned. 
The American loss was 9 killed and 23 wounded. The ef- 
fect of this battle was to break the tory spirit in the Caro- 
linas, and no more large bodies were organized. 

Vincennes — [Feb. 24, 1779] — When General Hamilton, 
the British commander at Detroit, learned of the loss of 
the western territory he started with a force of 500 Eng- 
lish, French and Indians to recover the posts. Dec. 17, 
1778. he reached Vincennes, on the Wabash River, about 
fifty miles north of the Ohio and 150 east of the Mississip- 
pi and took possession of the fort and town, the inhabitants 
deserting Helm, the American commandant. Most of the 
British force were then sent back to Detroit with instruc- 
tions to return in the spring prepared to proceed to the 
Mississippi river settlements. When General Clark, who 
was in Kaskaskia, heard that Hamilton was wintering in 
Vincennes with less than 100 men, he determined on an 
attack. 

Feb. 7, 1779, he started with 170 men, to march on Vin- 
cennes, 240 miles to the eastward. Melting snow had 
swelled the streams to torrents and the lowlands were 



82 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

flooded for miles. The men waded, sometimes waist-deep, 
through forests and swamps, cold and fatigued, hungry 
and discouraged, for the high waters had rendered game 
scarce and fires impossible. On Feb. 21, having been 
without food for two days, they were ferried over the Wa- 
bash. Four more miles of wading and Clark's men were 
before Vincennes. Throwing up entrenchments the rifle- 
men began picking off Hamilton's gunners, and the bat- 
teries of the fort were soon silenced. Feb. 24, the British 
commander surrendered with 79 men. Hamilton and 27 
others were sent to Virginia as prisoners and the con- 
quest of the northwest was complete and final. 

Briar Creek — [March 3, 1779] — American successes 
at Beaufort and Kettle Creek had stimulated the senti- 
ment of independence in South Carolina and General Lin- 
coln, receiving many accessions to his command at Purys- 
burg, was anxious not only to hold the Carolinas but to 
regain Georgia. General John Ashe was started for the 
upper part of the State with 1,500 North Carolina militia 
and the remains of the Georgia Continentals, in all about 
2,300 men. When he arrived opposite Augusta, Ga., the. 
British suddenly evacuated that place and moved south- 
ward along the western bank of the Savannah. Genera? 
Ashe crossed the river and pursued them. Under com- 
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell the British crossed 
Briar Creek, near its junction with the Savannah River 
destroying the bridges behind him. Feb. 27, Ashe, his 
command increased by 200 light horse, encamped on the 
north side of Briar Creek. In this position he was sur- 
prised, March 3, 1779, by Lieutenant Colonel Prevost, 
with about 900 men, who had made a circuit of 50 miles 
and crossed the creek above. The militia were panic- 
stricken and fled, many of them without firing a shot. 
About a hundred regulars under General Ebert, formed 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 83 

and made a feeble resistance, and General Ashe vainly 
tried to rally his men. Many plunged into the river and 
swamp and were drowned, a few reaching Purysburg. It 
is supposed from 150 to 200 men were lost either in action 
or flight. Eleven officers and 162 non-commissioned of- 
ficers and privates were taken prisoners, and of those who 
escaped not more than 450 rejoined the army, General 
Ashe was tried by Court martial and never returned to 
the army. He was taken prisoner by the British and died 
of small-pox on parole. 

Stono Ferry — [June 20, 1779] — The peaceful submis- 
sion of Georgia to British authority seemed to stimulate 
the people of South Carolina to greater exertions to pro- 
tect their State against invasion. John Rutledge was 
almost unanimously elected Governor and vested with ar- 
bitary powers. A central military camp was formed at 
Orangeburg, whence forces could be sent at short notice 
to any part of the State, General Moultrie was strength- 
ened in his position in the Black Swamp and reinforce- 
ments were sent to General Lincoln, who crossed the Sav- 
annah into Georgia to protect the State legislature which 
was called to meet at Augusta on May 1, and for the fur- 
ther purpose of cutting off the supplies which were being 
sent to the British General Prevost from the interior of 
the State. 

Unable to proceed against Lincoln in Georgia, Prevost, 
April 29, 1779, crossed the Savannah with 2,400 men and 
a body of Indians and advanced against Moultrie, who re- 
treated before him to Charleston, where he arrived May 
8. The city was placed in a condition of defense, Gov- 
ernor Rutledge came in from Orangeburg with a body of 
militia and General Lincoln returned from Georgia with 
part of his command. May 11, an attack on the town was 
made with about 900 men and repulsed by the Count Pu- 



84 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

laski with 80 men. Next night Prevost recrossed the Ash- 
ley River, and filing to the left, occupied James' Island and 
Wappo, about two miles from Charleston, whence he re- 
tired to John's Island, leaving a detachment of about 800 
men under Lieutenant Colonel Maitland, on the main land 
at Stono Ferry. The position was a strong one, protected 
by redoubts and surrounded by abatis, while the Stono 
flowed in the rear. June 20, 1779, General Lincoln ordered 
an advance against this post. General Hugen commanded 
the left wing with the Continental troops and four field- 
pieces; General Sumner occupied the right with the North 
and South Carolina militia and two fieldpieces, and the 
flanks were covered by light infantry under Lieutenant 
Colonel Henderson and Colonel Malmedy. After an 
hour's fighting the Americans withdrew in good order 
covered by Colonel Pickens's light troops. The British 
loss was 26 killed, 103 wounded and 1 missing; that of the 
Americans, 146 killed and wounded and 155 missing. The 
British continued their retreat, passing from island to isl- 
and till Port Royal was reached, whence they were trans- 
ported to Savannah. 

Poundridge, N. Y. — [July 2, 1779] — Lieutenant Colonel 
Banastre Tarleton, at his camp on the Bronx River, organ- 
ized an expedition July 1, 1779, to capture Major Ebenezer 
Lockwood, an active patriot of Westchester County, N. Y., 
for whose arrest a special reward had been offered. Lock- 
wood resided at the village of Poundridge, about twenty 
miles northeast of White Plains. Tarleton's party consist- 
ed of about 360 men, regulars, tories and Hessians, all 
mounted. He arrived in the village in the morning of 
July 2. He was met by Major Lockwood and Colonel 
Sheldon, with a small body of light horse, who retreated 
before him for two miles. Tarleton then returned, burned 
Lockwood's house, the Presbyterian church and other 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 85 

buildings at Poundridge and Mr. Hay's house at Bedford. 
The American loss in the skirmish was 10 men wounded 
and 8 missing. Tarleton lost 1 man killed and 1 wounded. 

New Haven, Conn. — [July 5, 1779] — In a probable ef- 
fort to draw a part of the Continental Army from its 
strong position in the Highlands of the Hudson or to pun- 
ish the people of Connecticut for sending it supplies, Sir 
Henry Clinton organized an expedition against the coast 
of Connecticut and placed it in charge of General Tryon, 
the royal governor of New York. The fleet, consisting of 
two men-of-war, the Camilla and Scorpion, with transports, 
etc., to the number of forty eight, under comand of Sir 
George Collier, left Whitestone, L. I., July--87T77T), carry 1 
ing 3,000 men. On the morning of the 5th about 1,500 
men under Brigadier General Garth landed at West 
Haven, and proceeded toward New Haven. They were 
opposed by about 25 men, some of them students of 
Yale College, under Captain James Hillhouse, with such 
stubbornness that they made a circuitous march of nine 
miles, crossing the river above the town and marching 
in by the Derby road harassed at every step. In the 
meantime, Governor Tryon, with the remainder of the 
troops, landed at East Haven and took possession of the 
fort at Black Rock, since named Fort Hale. After plun- 
dering and damaging the town to the extent of £24,893, 
the British re-embarked, taking about thirty prisoners. 
The loss to the Americans was 22 killed, 17 wounded; 
that of the British was 9 men killed, 40 wounded and 
25 missing. 

Fairfield, Conn. — [July 8, 1779] — After plundering New 
Haven, Governor Tryon's fleet dropped back to the south- 
west and anchored off the village of Fairfield, twenty-one 
miles from New Haven, July 8, 1779. Meeting with no 
organized opposition, the troops destroyed the courthouse, 




86 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

jail, two schoolhouses, two churches, eighty-three dwell- 
ing houses, fifty-four barns, forty-seven storehouses and 
shops and other property amounting in all to about £34,360. 
The inhabitants fled at the approach of the invaders or 
secreted themselves and no loss of life was reported, but 
9 of Tryon's men were killed, 30 wounded and 5 were re- 
ported missing. 

Norwalk, Conn. — [July 12, 1779] — After destroying the 
village of Fairfield, Tryon's fleet crossed Long Island 
Sound and lay at anchor off Huntington, L. I., until Sun- 
day, July 11, 1779, when they recrossed the Sound and 
landed near Norwalk, Conn. In their march toward the vil- 
lage, Tryon's men were opposed by Captain Stephen Betts, 
of Butler's Continental regiment, with about 50 men. These 
were dispersed by the superior number of the invaders 
without any loss of life. After destroying two churches, 
130 dwellings, eighty-seven barns, twenty-two stores, 
seventeen shops, four mills and five vessels and other prop- 
erty, amounting in all to $166,868, the expedition returned 
to New York. 

Stony Point — [July 16, 1779] — With the view of secur- 
ing possession of the passes of the Hudson River and of 
dislodging Washington's army from its quarters at the 
White Plains and the Highlands of the Hudson, Sir Henry 
Clinton, in the early summer of 1779, occupied and fortified 
Verplanck's Point and Stony Point, the termini of the 
King's Ferry, about forty miles from New York, on the 
Hudson. To circumvent Clinton's movements, Wash- 
ington planned the capture of Stony Point, which was 
garrisoned by 600 men under Lieutenant Colonel Johnson. 
General Anthony Wayne was charged with the execution 
of the plans. The troops selected for the expedition as- 
sembled at Sandy Beach, fourteen miles above Stony 
Point, on July 15, 1779. Colonel Ball's regiment was or- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 87 

dered from Rose's farm, to support the rear; Colonel 
Febiger's regiment, followed by Colonel Webb's (under 
command of Lieutenant Colonel Meigs) and a detach- 
ment under Major Hull, from West Point formed the right 
wing, and Colonel Butler's regiment and two companies 
of light troops from North Carolina, under Major Mur- 
free, constituted the left wing. "Light Horse Harry" Lee 
followed in the rear with a reserve corps and Muhlen- 
berg's brigade covered the entire party, which numbered 
about 1,200. It was not until the night of the 16th, when 
a mile and a half from the fort, that the men of the expe- 
dition were informed of its real object. The surprise was 
complete, but the garrison only surrendered after a severe 
hand-to-hand contest. The loss to the Americans was 15 
killed and 83 wounded; the British casualties were 20 
killed, 74 wounded, 58 missing and 472 prisoners. 

Minisink— [July 22, 1779]— The withdrawal of Count 
Pulaski's cavalry from their camp in Orange County, 
N. Y., in the spring of 1779, was followed by renewed 
depredations by Indians and tories. During the night of 
July 19, 1779, Joseph Brant, with sixty warriors and 
twenty-seven tories disguised as Indians, surprised and 
burned the settlement of Minisink, about ten miles west 
of Goshen, Orange County. As plunder seems to have 
been the object of the expedition, the inhabitants were 
allowed to escape. Ten houses, eleven barns and a grist 
mill were destroyed. News of the outrage having 
reached Colonel Tusten, at Goshen, he collected 149 
militiamen at Minisink, and it was decided to pursue the 
Indians. After a day's march they were joined by the 
Warwick militia under Colonel Hathorn, who assumed 
command. On the 22d the militia caught sight of the 
Indians on the eastern banks of the Delaware River north 
of the present site of Port Jervis. The latter were about 



88 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

to ford the river near the mouth of the Lackawaxen. In 
an attempt to head off this movement the militia were 
drawn into an ambuscade, their force was divided and they 
were subjected to a constant fire from ten o'clock in the 
morning till late in the afternoon, when they fled before a 
sudden rush of the Indians, leaving their wounded on the 
field. Only thirty of the party escaped. Forty-three years 
later the bones of the victims were gathered together and 
a monument erected to the memory of the 45 who are 
known to have fallen in battle, but of the 70 or 80 missing 
it is likely all were slain. 

Seneca Expedition— [July 31-Oct. 15, 1779]— Feb. 25, 
1779, Congress, on memorials of the General Assembly of 
Pennsylvania and of the Governors of New York and Con- 
necticut, passed a resolution ordering General Washington 
to take effectual measures for the protection of the inhabi- 
tants of those States and the chastisement of the savages. 
A punitive expedition was accordingly arranged under 
command of Generals Sullivan and James Clinton. The 
former advanced from Easton, Pa., by way of Wyoming, 
July 31, to Tioga Point, N. Y., where he was joined Aug. 
22 by Clinton, who had advanced by way of Canajoharie 
to the Otsego Lake and Cooperstown, striking terror into 
the hearts of the Indians on the way. Aug. 26, the en- 
tire command of 5,000 effective men, consisting of the 
brigades of Generals Clinton, Hand, Poor and Maxwell, 
Parr's riflemen and Procter's artillery, proceeded up the 
east bank of the Chemung River. The object of the expe- 
dition was the destruction and devastation of the Indian 
settlements and the capture of as many prisoners as pos- 
sible. Some 550 Indians and 250 tories had gathered and 
taken a position about a mile from the present city of El- 
mira. Here they were encountered by Sullivan's advance 
guard on August 29, and a desperate engagement charac- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 89 

teristic of the Indian mode of warfare took place. The 
Indians were overpowered and fled, leaving their dead and 
wounded on the field. In the pursuit 14 bodies were dis- 
covered, though the real loss was never recorded. Gen- 
eral Sullivan reported 3 killed and 39 wounded in the ac- 
tion. The fighting was mainly done by Poor's brigade, the 
others remaining in reserve or covering the artillery. The 
army then proceeded to destroy Newtown (Elmira), Hav- 
annah, Appletown, Kandaia, Ganundasaga, the chief town 
of the Senecas; Shoyase (Waterloo), Ganundagwa (Can- 
andaigua), Honeyaye, Kanaghsa and other villages and 
to devastate the country. 

In September, Lieutenant Boyd, with a detachment of 
26 men, encountered a body of Indians and tories near 
Little Beardstown (Cuyler), Livingston County. Twenty- 
two of Boyd's men fell in the action that ensued, and he 
and Sergeant Parker were killed in captivity. After de- 
stroying the village of Genesee the army returned by the 
route whence it advanced and arrived at Easton, Oct. 15, 
1779. 

Paulus Hook — [August 19, 1779] — The success of Gen- 
eral Wayne's assault on Stony Point inspired Major Henry 
(Light Horse Harry) Lee, Jr., of Virginia, with a desire 
to emulate that brilliant feat. The British had a garrison 
of 383 men stationed at Paulus Hook, now Jersey City, 
N. J., opposite New York City. Lee, at the head of two 
companies • of Maryland troops under Captain Levin 
Handy, a troop of the legion of dragoons under Lieutenant 
Michael Rudolph, and a party of Virginians, left the 
American lines in the Highlands Aug. 18, 1779, and cross- 
ing the Hackensack River marched down the hook to the 
fort. At 3 o'clock in the morning of the 19th the advance 
under Major Clarke and Captain Forsyth surprised the 
garrison and took possession of the main works without 



90 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the discharge of a gun. A part of the British having re- 
tired to a circular redoubt too strong for Lee's men, he re- 
turned to camp with 160 prisoners. Two Americans were 
killed and 3 wounded in the assault, and 30 British were 
killed. Congress rewarded Lee with thanks and a gold 
medal. 

Bon Homme Richard-Serapis — [Sept. 23, 1779] — 
Through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin, acting as a 
special diplomatic agent of the United States, a squadron 
was fitted out in France in the Summer of 1779, and 
placed in command of Captain John Paul Jones. The 
vessels were the Duras, an East India merchantman, later 
named the Bon Homme Richard, in honor of Franklin, 
mounting six 18-pounders, twenty-eight 9 and 12-pounders 
and eight 6-pounders; the Alliance, a frigate mounting 
thirty-six guns; the Vengeance, a brig of twelve guns, and 
the Cerf, a cutter carrying eighteen guns. The cost of 
equipping these vessels is said to have been borne con- 
jointly by King Louis XVI. of France, by French capital- 
ists, and by the American commissioners — Franklin, Ar- 
thur Lee and Silas Deane. 

About seven o'clock in the evening of September 23d, 
while cruising off Flamborough Head, on the Yorkshire 
coast of England in 54° 7' north latitude, 0° 5' west longi- 
tude, Commodore Jones came up with the Baltic fleet, 
which was returning to British waters under convoy of 
the Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough. The Serapis 
was a fast new double-decked "forty-four." She mounted 
twenty 18-pounders on her lower gun deck, twenty 9- 
pounders on her upper gun deck and ten 6-pounders on 
quarter deck and forecastle. The crew consisted of 320 
men, with Captain Richard Pearson in command. 

The weather was clear and the sea smooth, and as the 
fight begun the moon arose in full Autumnal splendor and 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 91 

shone for three and a half hours on one of the most des- 
perate sea fights the world has ever witnessed. At the 
first discharge two of the 18-pounders aboard the Richard 
burst, and the four remaining ones were abandoned, but 
the American exchanged several broadsides with her 6, 9 
and 12-pounders. The Serapis raked the Richard astern, 
and, coming up on the weather quarter, passed ahead. 
Then, turning to deliver a broadside at her enemy, the 
Serapis was rammed amidships, the grappling irons were 
thrown over her side and the American marines stood by 
ready to rush aboard. The chains were cut, however, and 
the vessels separated. The Richard turned again and ran 
under the bows of the Serapis and again made fast, and 
the two ships drifted alongside, head and stern, so close 
that the muzzles of the guns of each touched the other 
ship. A constant connonading was maintained and each 
crew made desperate attempts to board the other vessel. 
Sharp-shooters in the rigging of the Richard cleared the 
tops of the Serapis and dropped hand grenades on her 
decks. A dozen times both vessels were afire. By an ex- 
plosion of cartridges 20 men on the Serapis were killed 
and 38 wounded. The Alliance stood to windward and 
fired on friend and foe alike. When the Richard appeared 
to be sinking, 300 English prisoners were released and 
put to man the pumps. Captain Pearson struck his colors 
at half past ten o'clock, and, with his officers, went over 
to the Richard and surrendered, while Lieutenant Richard 
Dale went aboard the prize. 

While this fight was going on the Pallas had attacked, 
and, after a two-hour struggle, captured the Countess of 
Scarborough. Two days later the Richard was abandoned 
and sank. The loss of life on the Serapis is said to have 
been 137 men killed and 76 wounded; that on the Richard, 
165 killed and 137 wounded and missing. Commodore 



92 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Jones was made a rear admiral in the Russian navy, and 
highly honored by the King of France and the Congress 
of the United States. 

Savannah, Siege of— [Sept. 23 to Oct. 18, 1779]— In 
the hope of reclaiming Georgia from the British and re- 
establishing the authority of the State, it was decided, late 
in 1779, to invite the co-operation of the French Count 
D'Estaing, who was then with his fleet in the West Indies, 
to co-operate with the land forces in an attack on Savan- 
nah. This city was held by General Prevost with 2,360 
serviceable men, under Lieutenant Colonels Maitland and 
Conger, exclusive of a large number of negroes, who had 
been brought in from the neighboring plantations to work 
on fortifications. The Count D'Estaing's fleet consisted 
of 22 ships of the line and 11 frigates, and, having been 
joined by several smaller vessels from Charleston bearing 
General Dillon's Irish brigade and detachments from other 
regiments numbering in the aggregate 3,524 men, pro- 
ceeded up the Savannah River to Bewlie, about twelve 
miles from Savannah, where they landed. Having been 
joined by General Lincoln with the regulars, Count 
Pulaski's legion and Rutledge's South Carolina militia, 
swelling his aggregate force to about 6,000 men, Admiral 
D'Estaing, Sept. 16, 1779, summoned the garrison to sur- 
render to the King of France. Upon the formal refusal 
of General Prevost a regular siege was begun Sept. 23. 
From the morning of Oct. 5 to Oct. 8 a heavy bombard- 
ment was maintained. On the 9th an assault was made by 
about 3,500 French, 600 Continentals and 250 militia. The 
assailants were divided into several bodies, with the in- 
tention of simultaneously attacking different points of the 
defenses, but for some unknown cause the troops failed 
to move at the appointed time and the assault, after nearly 
an hour's fierce fighting, was abandoned. The loss of 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 93 

the British during the entire siege was 40 killed, 63 
wounded and 52 missing. The American loss was reported 
as 10 officers (including Count Pulaski) killed, 21 wounded 
(among them D'Estaing) and 170 non-commissioned of- 
ficers and privates missing. The French loss was 183 
killed and 454 wounded. The siege was raised and on Oct. 
18 the allied forces gave up their positions, the Americans 
crossing the Savannah at Zubley's ferry to the northward 
the next day, and the French marching down to the Thun- 
derbolt, and thence re-embarking on the 20th. The fail- 
ure of the operations against Savannah was a severe blow 
to the cause of American independence, depressing not 
only the spirits of the people, but the public securities as 
well. Confidence in the value and good faith of the French 
allies, already somewhat shaken by the actions in the 
Chesapeake and off Rhode Island, gave way to disappoint- 
ment and doubt of the sincerity of the friendship of the 
French for the cause of young republic. 

Next to Bunker Hill, this fight was the bloodiest of the 
war. The mistake of the battle lay in the delay of the 
combined forces to advance to the attack, thus giving the 
British time to strengthen their fortifications and receive 
reinforcements. 

Charleston, Siege of — [March 29 to May 12, 1780] — 
When Sir Henry Clinton learned of the failure of the at- 
tack on Savannah he sent an additional force of 7,500 men 
to the South under Major General Leslie. This army em- 
barked at New York, Dec. 26, 1779, and under convoy of 
Admiral Arbuthnot's fleet, proceeded to Tybee Island and 
Savannah. Here another 1,000 men was added to the 
force. Feb. 10, 1780, the fleet entered the North Edisto 
River about 30 miles south of Charleston, and imme- 
diately took possession of John's Island, James's Island, 
Wappoo Cut and Stono Ferry, and later the bank of the 



94 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Ashley River, west of Charleston. General Lincoln was in 
charge of the Southern army at Charleston with only 
1,000 men at his command. The works for the defense of 
the city consisted of Fort Wilkins (sixteen guns) at the 
lower extremity of the city, commanding the entrance of 
both the Ashley and Cooper Rivers; Fort Gibbs (nine 
guns), Ferguson's Fort (five guns), the Sugar House Fort 
(six guns), the Old Magazine (five guns), the fort on 
Cumming's Point (five guns), and the fort on Northwest 
Point (four guns), on the Ashley River; while on the bank 
of the Cooper River, proceeding northward from Fort 
Wilkins, were Darrell's Fort (seven guns), the fort at the 
end of the bay (four guns), Exchange Fort (seven guns), 
the fort at the Governor's Bridge (three guns), and Old 
Indian Fort (five guns), and seven guns were mounted 
in Gadsden's Wharf. The Neck was defended by a strong 
line of redoubts extending from river to river and mount- 
ing sixty-six guns, and some mortars. General Patterson 
marched from Savannah with 1,200 men to the aid of the 
British and crossed the Ashley River twelve miles above 
the town, on March 29. The first skirmish took place the 
next day, and on April 1 Sir Henry Clinton's first lines 
were thrown up within 800 yards of the American out- 
posts. On the 7th of April General Lincoln was strength- 
ened by the arrival of General Woodford with TOO men 
of the Virginia line and by Colonel Harrington with a 
body of North Carolina militia. By April, eight guns were 
mounted, the British fleet moved up, passing Fort Moul- 
trie, with the loss of twenty-seven men, and on the 10th 
General Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot joined in a de- 
mand for the surrender of the town. Upon General 
Lincoln's refusal, the British opened fire, which they 
kept up from the 9th to the 19th of April. Lord 
Cornwallis arrived from New Lork April 18, with 2,500 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 95 

men, strengthening the fleet and land forces. On the 21st 
General Lincoln proposed a conditional surrender, which 
was rejected. April 24 the British captured the works on 
Mount Pleasant, near Hoddrell's Point; April 29, Admiral 
Arbuthnot with 500 marines forced the Americans to 
abandon l'Empries Point, with a loss of nearly 100 men, 
who were captured by the guard boats, on the way to 
Charleston. May 4, 200 marines took Fort Moultrie, on 
Sullivan's Island. May 5, General Huger's command of 
American light troops at Monk's Corner were dispersed 
or taken prisoners and on the 7th Fort Moultrie surren- 
dered. On the 8th a second summons to surrender was 
rejected by General Lincoln, and from the morning of the 
9th to the 11th of May, 200 cannon poured shot and shell 
into the town. The garrison and inhabitants returned the 
fire with vigor, though poorly supplied with stores and 
provisions. May 12, articles of surrender were signed. 
The loss to the Americans during the siege was 20 civil- 
ians and 92 Continentals and militia killed and 146 wound- 
ed ; the British lost 76 killed and 189 wounded; 5,466 pris- 
oners, including Continentals, militia and towns-people, 
fell into British hands. Twenty-one brass and 210 
iron guns, nine mortars, one howitzer, fifteen stand of 
colors, 5,416 muskets, besides the vessels and military 
stores, fell into the hands of the British as trophies. South 
Carolina now became a British province, and the cause of 
American independence seemed hopeless in the South. 

Young's House — [Feb. 3, 1780] — In the early part of 
1780 Joseph Young's residence, on the old road leading 
from Tarrytown to White Plains, in Westchester county, 
N. Y., was the headquarters for about 250 Continentals 
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thompson of Massa- 
chusetts. These troops were designed to protect that part 
of the country lying between Bedford and the Hudson 



96 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

River, the Croton River and the American lines. During 
the night of Feb. 2, 1780, Colonel Norton, with about 500 
British, Hessians and tories, left Fort Knphausen (Fort 
Washington) to dislodge Thompson. On the morning of 
the 3rd the British advance encountered an American pick- 
et guard and soon the fighting became general. The Ameri- 
cans retreated up the road and into the house, pursued by 
the tories and Hessians. The house, with five wounded 
men, was burned. Fourteen Americans were killed and 
37 were wounded, and 76 were taken prisoners, among 
whom were Joseph Young and Lieutenant Colonel 
Thompson. The British loss is said to have been 5 killed 
and 18 wounded. 

Waxhaw — [May 29, 1780] — After the capture of 
Charleston, Sir Henry Clinton sent a detachment of some 
300 men, under Colonel Tarleton, to disperse Colonel Bu- 
ford's command of 380 men, who, hearing of the fall of 
Charleston, had retired to near the North Carolina line. 
May 29, 1780, Tarleton overtook Buford at the Waxhaw 
River, about nine miles north of Lancaster, S. C. The 
British made a furious charge, and many of Buford's men 
threw down their arms and begged for quarter. One hun- 
dred and thirteen were killed on the spot, 150 so badly 
wounded that it was impossible to move them, and only 
53 were taken prisoners. Colonel Buford and about 
100 infantry and a few horses escaped. The British lost 
but 5 killed and 15 wounded. With this massacre 
the last vestige of open opposition to British rule in South 
Carolina disappeared. 

Trumbull- Watt— [June 1, 1780]— June 1, 1780, the 
Trumbull, mounting twenty-four 12-pounders and six 6- 
pounders, with 199 men, commanded by Captain James 
Nicholson, while cruising in latitude 35° 54' N., and longi- 
tude 66° W., fell in with the Watt, a well-armed letter of 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 97 

marque, carrying the British colors and thirty-two guns 
and 163 men, commanded by Captain Coulthard. The 
Trumbull opened fire and for more than three hours the 
two vessels lay nearly abeam of each other exchanging 
broadsides, never more than half a cable length apart and 
sometimes with their yards almost interlocked. After 
both vessels had sustained great damage the Trumbull 
withdrew and the Watt proceeded on her course. The loss 
on the Trumbull was 8 men killed and 31 wounded. 
Her main and mizzenmast went overboard and all sails 
were shot away or burned. The Watt lost 92 of her men 
killed or wounded. She was struck a hundred times and 
her rigging and braces were carried away. 

Connecticut Farms — [June 7, 1780] — Relying for suc- 
cess upon the spirit of discontent in the American Army 
and the discouragement of the people, Generals Sterling, 
Knyphausen, Mathews, and Tryon, with 5,000 men, crossed 
from Staten Island to Elizabethtown Point, N. J., June 6, 
1780, to give encouragement to the loyal feeling supposed 
to prevail in New Jersey, encourage desertion from the 
American cause, and possibly to reach Washington's camp 
at Morristown. June 7, the British moved to Connecticut 
Farms, about four miles northwest of Elizabethtown. With 
the exception of one house this village was pillaged and 
burned. Opposed at every step by the inhabitants and 
the militia, the British advanced toward Springfield. Ar- 
riving at the bridge which crosses the Rahway River near 
that village, a detachment of Continentals was encoun- 
tered. An action was deemed inexpedient and the army 
returned to Elizabethtown. The Jersey brigade lost 1 
man killed and 3 wounded, and the British loss was 
not recorded. Including subsequent operations near 
Elizabethtown, the Americans lost 30 killed and wounded; 
the British 150 killed and 150 wounded. 



98 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Ramsour's Mill — [June 20, 1780] — The subjugation of 
Georgia and South Carolina inspired the ambitious tories 
of North Carolina with a desire to subdue their rebellious 
neighbors and bring the commonwealth under the undis- 
puted dominion of the King. Lord Cornwallis, in charge 
of the Southern department of the British Army, advised 
waiting until after harvest to begin active operations, be- 
cause of the extreme heat and the scarcity of provisions. 
Impatient at delay, John Moore and Nicholas Welsh, lieu- 
tenant and major respectively of a regiment of loyalists, 
established a camp of their restless followers on a hill 300 
yards east of Ramsour's Mill, and half a mile north of the 
village of Lincolntown, Lincoln county, N. C, and by 
June 20, 1780, 1,300 men, one quarter of them without 
arms, were there assembled. General Rutherford, with 
800 North Carolina militia, was in the southern part of 
the State watching Colonel Rawden, who, with a party 
of British regulars, was posted at the Waxhaws on the 
South Carolina border. When Rutherford heard of the 
gathering of tories at Ramsour's Mill, he issued orders to 
Colonel Locke of Rowan county to disperse them. On 
the evening of June 19, 1780, Locke, with 400 men, 
abandoned his quarters on Mountain Creek, and after a 
march of sixteen miles encountered the tory picket guard 
at daybreak on the morning of the 20th. The camp was 
surprised and thrown into confusion. Those who were 
unarmed and some with arms fled and later formed on the 
opposite side of the creek. Neither of the contending 
parties was drilled in military tactics and each fought as 
circumstances dictated, under command of captains. They 
were not even uniformed, the tories being distinguished 
by sprigs of green pine in their hats and the militia by 
pieces of white paper similarly placed. The ground was 
stubbornly contested, neighbor striving against neighbor 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 99 

and kinsman against kinsman, as at Oriskany, in hand-to- 
hand conflict. The tories finally gave way and sent out 
a flag of truce. While the flag was out most of the tories 
dispersed; Moore and thirty of his followers reached Cam- 
den and joined Lord Rawden. Of the 400 militia en- 
gaged, only 110 men could be collected after the battle. 
About 150 were killed and wounded on each side. 

Springfield, N. J.— [June 23, 1780]— After the failure 
of the first British invasion of New Jersey by way of 
Staten Island and Elizabethtown, Sir Henry Clinton sent 
reinforcements from New York to Knyphausen, and made 
a feint against the Highlands by way of the North River. 
Washington, to defend New Jersey and at the same time 
to be enabled to move rapidly to the Highlands if neces- 
sary, moved to Rockaway Ridge, about eleven miles 
toward Pompton, northeast from Morristown, leaving 
General Greene with less than 1,000 Continentals, besides 
the inexperienced militia near Springfield, to cover the 
country and the stores at Morristown. About 5 A. M. 
June 23, 1780, the British Army under Knyphausen ad- 
vanced toward Springfield 5,000 strong. General Greene's 
forces were disposed in the Short Hills to the rear of the 
village. The brigades of Stark and Maxwell formed the 
centre, flanked by local militia, while Angell's Rhode Isl- 
and regiment guarded the bridge where the main road 
from Elizabethtown to Morristown crosses the Rahway 
Creek on the southeastern side of the village. Two 
other bridges were defended by Colonel Shrieve's New 
Jersey regiment and by Major Henry Lee and Captain 
Walker, supported by Colonel Ogden. The British troops 
forced the passage of the bridges and the Americans re- 
tired to a second range of hills where the lines could be 
more concentrated. Perceiving the strength of the Ameri- 
can position, and in view of the stubborn resistance al- 

LOFCi 



100 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

ready encountered, the British abandoned the enterprise. 
After setting fire to almost every house in Springfield, 
they returned to Elizabethtown, hotly pursued by Captain 
Davis and a small party of regulars, and harassed at 
every step by the militia, who fired from behind trees, 
fences, walls and barns. The loss in this disastrous ex- 
pedition has never been ascertained, though about 150 
killed and 150 wounded were reported in the vicinity of 
Elizabethtown between this engagement and the action 
of June 7. The American loss, exclusive of Captain Davis' 
detachment, was 13 killed, 61 wounded and 9 missing. 
This may be considered as one of the most successful de- 
fenses of the Revolution. 

Williamson's Farm— [July 12, 1780]— The spirit of in- 
dependence in South Carolina was not entirely crushed by 
the surrender of Charleston. Though temporarily over- 
powered and forced into submission, the revolutionary 
feeling at times found vent in attacks on the tories or 
British foraging parties. Colonel William Bratton and 
Captain John McClure were particularly active in the vi- 
cinity of the Catawba. Lieutenant Colonel Trumbull, 
who was stationed at Rocky Mount, in the Chester Dis- 
trict, detached Captain Christopher Houk with about 100 
men to gather the royalist militia under his standard and 
punish the insurgents. With a force increased to 400 
men Houk visited the homes of Bratton and McClure 
July 11, 1780. As the latter were absent in Sumter's 
camp at the time, Houk proceeded to Williamson's farm, 
where he encamped for the night. Early the next morn- 
ing he was surprised by seventy-five of Sumter's men un- 
der Bratton and McClure, and in the fight which fol- 
lowed, Houk, Ferguson and most of their men were 
killed or wounded. Only 24 of the 400 are known to have 
escaped. The Americans lost only 1 man killed. 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 101 

Rocky Mount, Assault on — [July 30, 1780] — Encour- 
aged by the success of the affair at Williamson's farm, 
General Sumter determined to make an attack upon the 
British post at Rocky Mount, thirty miles northwest of 
Camden. The fort consisted of two log houses, perforated 
for small arms, situated on a high hill on the west bank 
of the Catawba River. The garrison consisted of 150 
New York volunteers and a detachment of South Carolina 
tories, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Trumbull. 
Three unsuccessful assaults were made. The Americans 
finally withdrew after a loss of 13 men killed and wounded, 
including Col. Reed. The British loss was about the 
same. 

Green Spring, Also Called Cedar Spring — [August 
1, 1780] — The determined opposition to British rule by 
a few independent spirits in the Carolinas and Georgia 
made it advisable for the British to maintain military 
posts and patrol the country to hold the ascendancy, as 
well as to recruit their tory regiments. Major Ferguson, 
while bivouacking the Spartanburg district of South Caro- 
lina with a force of about 500 men, detached Captain Dun- 
lap with 60 dragoons and 150 mounted riflemen to cap- 
ture Colonel Elijah Clark, who had come up from Georgia 
and was agitating for independence in the conquered ter- 
ritory. Before daylight in the morning of Aug. 1, 1780, 
Dunlap encountered Clark with 186 men at Green Spring, 
or Cedar Spring, and after a fight of fifteen or twenty 
minutes Dunlap retreated to the main force, leaving 
28 of his dragoons dead on the field, besides the wounded, 
and a number of riflemen of whom no record was kept. 
The American loss was 4 killed and 23 wounded. 

Hanging Rock — [August 6, 1780] — Colonel Sumter, 
having been reinforced by about 500 North Carolina 
troops under Colonel Irwin and Major William R. Daire 



102 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

and about 300 South Carolinians under Colonels Lacey and 
Hill, increasing his force to some 950 men, on the evening 
of Aug. 6, 1780, attacked the British post at Hanging Rock, 
a large boulder jutting out from the high bank of the 
Catawba River, in South Carolina, eleven miles from 
Rocky Mount, in the Lancaster district. The post was com- 
manded by Major Carden. A body of North Carolina ref- 
ugees under Col. Bryan fled upon the approach of Sumter, 
but the Prince of Wales regiment of loyal American vol- 
unteers, under Colonel Monfort Brown, and a party of 
McCullock's infantry, aggregating 438 men, defended the 
post for four hours and were almost annihilated, the Brit- 
ish loss aggregating 269. The American loss was not re- 
ported, though about 100 were killed and wounded. The 
conflict lasted four hours. No regular British soldiers were 
engaged in this battle, the fight being carried on solely 
between American Whigs and Tories. 

Wateree Ford — [August 15, 1780] — When General 
Gates was assigned to the command of the Southern de- 
partment of the American army he established headquar- 
ters at Clermont on the eastern banks of the Wateree River 
in South Carolina. The British forces were being concen- 
trated at Camden, S. C, about thirteen miles down the 
river. General Sumter, who was operating on the west- 
ern bank of the Wateree, notified Gates that a detachment 
of British were transporting stores from Fort Ninety-six 
to Camden, and asked for reinforcements to intercept 
them. Gates sent Lieutenant Colonel Woolford with a 
company of artillery with two fieldpieces, 100 infantry 
from the Maryland line and 300 North Carolina militia to 
Sumter's aid. The guards at Elkins Ford and Whitear's 
Ferry retired before him and on the morning of Aug. 15, 
1780, the redoubt which covered the Wateree Ford was 
surprised and captured. Colonel Cary and 30 prisoners 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 103 

were taken and 7 of the garrison were killed. Thirty- 
eight wagons loaded with corn and rum, as well as a num- 
ber of horses, fell into the hands of the victors. On the 
same day the detachment of British regulars from Fort 
Ninety-six, numbering about 70, with six wagons loaded 
with baggage, were added to the trophies. Sumter's men 
sustained no loss. 

Saunders Creek (S. C), Also Known as the Battle of 
Camden — [August 16, 1780] — During the summer of 1780 
the British forces in South Carolina, being hard pressed 
by General Sumter and other aggressive Americans, was 
concentrated at Camden, the county seat of Kershaw 
county, S. C, thirty-three miles northeast of Columbia, on 
the east bank of the Wateree, under command of Lord 
Cornwallis, who came up from Charleston. His force num- 
bered 2,239 men, and consisted of the Royal Artillery, the 
Welsh Fusileers, Rawdon's Irish Volunteers, Tarleton's 
Legion and other British regulars, besides the Royal 
North Carolina regiment and other tory militia. General 
Gates, in command of the Southern division of the Ameri- 
can army had been reinforced by Baron De Kalb, with 
Colonel Armand's Legion of regulars, the Delaware and 
Maryland line under Generals Smallwood and Gist, 
Colonel Harrison's artillery, Porterfield's and Stevens' 
Virginia militia, Rutherford's, Armstrong's and Caswell's 
North Carolina light infantry, aggregating about 4,100 
men. With this force at his command Gates determined 
to surprise Cornwallis. By a strange coincidence Corn- 
wallis had determined to attack Gates at the same time. 
The two armies unexpectedly met at Saunders' Creek, 
near Camden, S. C, on the night of Aug. 16, 1780. After 
some skirmishing, hostilities were suspended until the 
morning, when, with the first British attack, the Virginia 
and South Carolina militia fled, scarcely discharging a 



104 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

musket. Baron De Kalb bore the brunt of the battle, and 
fell, wounded twelve times. The American defeat was com- 
plete. Their loss in killed, wounded and prisoners was 
about 1,000. The British lost 325 men, 68 of whom were 
killed. So closely were the American troops pursued that 
no attempt was made to rally them. Generals Smallwood 
and Gist, with a few of the regulars, succeeded in reaching 
Charlotte, N. C., and the militia returned to their homes. 
This engagement closed the military career of General 
Gates. The British came into possession of seven pieces 
of artillery, 2,000 muskets, the entire baggage train, and 
nearly 1,000 prisoners, including Generals De Kalb, Greg- 
ory and Rutherford. 

Musgrove Mills — [August 18, 1780] — One of the results 
of the British Major Ferguson's recruiting expedition into 
the back country of the Carolinas in the summer of 1780 
was the assembling of about 200 tories at Musgrove's 
Mills, on the Enoree River, in the southwestern part of 
the Union District of South Carolina. When the existence 
of this party became known to the Americans, Colonel 
James Williams, Colonel Brattan of South Carolina, Clarke 
of Georgia and Shelby of Virginia, who were encamped 
with 200 men on the Broad River, set out on Aug. 16 to 
capture them. The tories were reinforced by Colonel 
Ennis with 200 regulars and 100 other tories, making in 
all 500 men. About daybreak on the morning of Aug. 18 
Colonel Williams and his associates came in sight of the 
British. After a conflict of less than an hour the latter 
broke and fled in confusion, pursued by the Americans. 
The British loss was 90 killed and 76 prisoners; the Amer- 
icans lost 5 killed and 11 wounded. 

Fishing Creek— [August 18, 1780]— After the defeat of 
Gates's army at Camden, Lord Cornwallis dispatched 
Colonel Tarleton with the British legion and the light 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 105 

infantry of the army in pursuit of General Sumter, who 
occupied the west bank of the Wateree with about 800 
men. The latter being apprised of Tarleton's approach, 
retreated up the Wateree, taking his prisoners and the 
booty taken at the lower ford on the 15th. Aug. 18, 
Sumter halted on the northern bank of Fishing Creek, 
about two miles from its junction with the Catawba, in 
Chester District, S. C. In this position he was surprised 
by Tarleton with about 160 men, separated from his arms, 
and forced to surrender without any serious attempt at 
defense. Sumter and about 350 of his men escaped, but 
150 were killed or wounded and upward of 300 taken 
prisoners. The British lost 9 men killed and 6 wounded. 

Wahab's Plantation— [Sept. 21, 1780]— South Caro- 
lina having been practically subjugated by the defeat of 
Gates at Camden and the capture and dispersal of Sum- 
ter's men at Fishing Creek, Cornwallis moved with the 
main body of his army toward Charlotte, N. C, with Salis- 
bury as his objective point. Tarleton, with the British 
legion and the light infantry, moved up the west bank of 
the Wateree in a line parallel to the main body, while to 
the westward, in the same direction, moved Major Fergu- 
son and his tories. Colonel Davie, with the American 
troops, retreated to Providence. A part of the British 
legion having quartered themselves at the farm of Captain 
Wahab, one of Davies' officers, the latter with a small de- 
tachment, on Sept. 21, surprised and killed or wounded 
60 of them, took ninety-six horses and their equipments 
and 120 stand of arms. Colonel Davie retired to Provi- 
dence with only 1 man wounded. 

Charlotte, N. C— [Sept. 26, 1780]— Upon the advance 
of Cornwallis toward Charlotte, General Sumter retreated 
with the main body of Americans to Salisbury, leaving 
•Colonel Davie with his corps and a few volunteers under 



106 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Major Joseph Graham, to harass the enemy. On the morn- 
ing of Sept. 26, 1780, Tarleton's British Legion, com- 
manded by Major Hanger, entered Charlotte. About 
twenty of Davie's cavalry were posted, dismounted, be- 
hind a stone-wall near the courthouse, while two com- 
panies of riflemen and a few of the Mecklenburg militia 
were posted along the garden fences on both sides of 
the road. A stubborn battle was fought, the Americans 
slowly retreating before superior numbers. The British 
casualties were not reported, but are said on good author- 
ity to have been greater than that of the Americans, which 
were 6 men killed and 13 wounded. 

King's Mountain — [Oct. 7, 1780] — Early in October, 
1780, Cornwallis sent Colonels Tarleton and Ferguson 
from Charleston to invade North Carolina and enroll local 
militia and compel the allegiance of the people. On the 
6th Ferguson, finding himself hotly pursued by the Ameri- 
cans, took up a strong position on King's Mountain, one 
of a series of rocky summits, extending from northeast to 
southwest and about a mile and a half north of the bound- 
ary line between North and South Carolina. The Ameri- 
can army consisted of 160 militia from Clark and Ruther- 
ford counties, N. C, under Colonel Charles McDowell; 
240 from Washington county, N. C. (now a part of Ten- 
nessee), under Colonel John Sevier; 240 from Sullivan 
county (now also part of Tennessee), under Colonel Isaac 
Shelby; 400 from Washington county, Va., under Colonel 
William Campbell; 350 from Wilkes and Surry counties, 
N. C, under Colonel Benjamin Cleveland. These as- 
sembled at Watauga, Sept. 25, 1780, and on the following 
day started in pursuit of Ferguson. They were later 
joined by Colonel James Williams and a party of South 
Carolinians, increasing the command to about 1,500 men. 
Ferguson's army, according to the provision rolls found 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 107 

in their camp after the battle, was 1,125. The American 
advance was made with 900 mounted men. The attack 
was made on the afternoon of Oct. 7. After a desperate 
struggle, lasting an hour, in which Ferguson was killed, the 
British force surrendered. The casualties on the British 
side were 225 killed, 163 so badly wounded as to be left 
upon the field, and 716 taken prisoner. The Americans 
lost 28 men killed and 60 wounded. Fifteen hundred 
muskets and other arms and considerable baggage fell 
into the hands of the Americans. 

Fish Dam Ford— [Nov. 9, 1780]— While the British 
Army was encamped at Camden and Winnsborough, S. C, 
General Sumter, with a body of Carolinians, remained on 
the west bank of the Santee River to restrain foraging 
parties and menace Fort Ninety-six, one of the British 
outposts. Major Wemyss of the Sixty-third British regu- 
lars and some cavalry of the legion, attempted to surprise 
Sumter at Fish Dam Ford, on the Broad River, in the 
northern part of South Carolina, on Nov. 9, 1780. Sumter 
was prepared for the attack and the British were repulsed 
with the loss of 6 men killed and 17, including Major 
Wemyss, wounded, and 25 taken prisoners. 

Blackstocks— [Nov. 20, 1780] — After the action at Fish 
Dam Ford Sumter received accessions to his force from 
the commands of Colonels Twiggs, Clarke and Candler 
of Georgia and Colonels Thomas and Bratton and Majors 
McCall an.d Hammond of South Carolina. With a force 
increased to 560 men he started for Fort Ninety-six. Corn- 
wallis, learning of this movement, recalled Lieutenant 
Colonel Tarleton from his pursuit of Marion and directed 
him to overtake Sumter. The latter crossed the Ennoree 
River and was overtaken by Tarleton with 250 men at 
Blackstock's plantation, on the Tiger River, in the west- 
ern part of the Union District of South Carolina, on Nov. 



108 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

20, 1780. After a short engagement Tarleton fled, leav- 
ing 92 killed and 100 men wounded upon the field. The 
loss of the Americans was 3 killed and 4 wounded, among 
the latter being General Sumter. 

Fort St. George— [Nov. 23, 1780]— During the autumn 
of 1780, a party of tory refugees from Rhode Island oc- 
cupied St. George's manor house on Smith's Point, in the 
town of Brookhaven, L. I., on a small neck of land which 
puts out into the Great South Bay. They fortified the 
place and named it Fort St. George. Considerable forage 
had been collected in the vicinity for the use of the British 
Army. Major Benjamin Tallmadge, a native of Brook- 
haven, was authorized to dislodge the tories and destroy 
the forage. With a force of about eighty men, consisting 
of two companies of dismounted dragoons from Shel- 
don's regiment, he left Fairfield, Conn., on Nov. 21, 1780, 
crossed Long Island Sound and landed at Old Man's Har- 
bor (Mount Sinai). On the morning of Nov. 23 he sur- 
prised the garrison and forced their surrender with little 
resistance. The loss to the tories was 7 men killed 
and wounded and 54 prisoners. Captain Edgar con- 
ducted the wounded and prisoners to the boats on the 
north shore of the Island, and Lieutenant Brewster burned 
about 300 tons of hay stacked near by and the expedition 
returned to Fairfield, with the loss of 1 man wounded. 

Richmond, Burning of— [Jan. 5 and 6, 1781]— Benedict 
Arnold, after his treason to the American cause, displayed 
his zeal for his new masters by issuing an "Address" and 
a "Proclamation" to the discontented among the Ameri- 
cans calling upon them to join him and take up arms 
against the revolutionary government. His action did not 
inspire even the malcontents with confidence, and, al- 
though authorized to raise a regiment, he succeeded in 
rallying only about 200 men to his standard. Disappoint- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 109 

ed with the results of Arnold's work in this line, Sir Henry 
Clinton gave him the command of an expedition to Vir- 
ginia. A force of some 1,600 men was made up, composed 
of the Eighteenth or Edinburgh regiment, under Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Dundas; the Queen's Rangers, under Lieu- 
tenant Simcoe, a small party of New York volunteers 
under Captain Althause, and his own 200. With orders 
to create a diversion in favor of Cornwallis and if neces- 
sary to strengthen the latter's command, Arnold sailed 
from Sandy Hook, N. J., Dec. 19, 1780. Proceeding to 
Chesapeake Bay and up the James River with little oppo- 
sition, he anchored at Westover, twenty-five miles below 
Richmond, on Jan. 4, 1781. Here the troops were landed, 
and, there being no adequate preparations for the defense 
of the State, marched into Richmond on the afternoon of 
Jan. 5. Next morning the public buildings records and 
stores were burned as well as much private property. In 
the afternoon of Jan. 6 the invaders returned to Westover 
without the loss of a man. 

Charles City, Va.— [Jan. 8, 1781]— While Arnold was 
still at Westover, Va., it was learned that Colonel Dudley 
had collected a party of American militia at Charles City 
Courthouse, and Lieutenant Colonels Simcoe and Tarleton 
were sent to dislodge them. The militia were surprised 
on the night of Jan. 8, 1781, and fled, with the loss of 
20 men killed and wounded, and 8 prisoners. One man 
killed and 3 wounded was the extent of the British cas- 
ualties. 

Cowpens — [Jan. 17, 1781] — Continued disasters to the 
American cause in the South induced Congress to order 
a court of inquiry into General Gates' conduct of the 
army in that section, and he was succeeded in the com- 
mand by General Greene, Dec. 2, 1780. Including the com- 
mands of Generals Daniel Morgan and William Davidson, 



110 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Colonel Pickens, and Majors McDowell and Cunningham, 
who joined him early in 1781, General Greene's force 
numbered about 3,000 men. Cornwallis, in full posses- 
sion of South Carolina, was with his command at Winns- 
borough, awaiting reinforcements for the invasion of 
North Carolina. Greene detached Morgan to the west 
bank of the Catawba, where, with Pickens's Carolina mil- 
itia, Lieutenant Colonel John E. Howard's Virginia vet- 
erans, under Major Triplett, the Continental troops, Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Washington and his cavalry, he occupied 
a position west of the Pacolet branch of the Broad River, 
called the Cowpens, a series of small parallel ridges about 
twenty-five miles northeast of the Spartanburg court- 
house and about two miles south of the boundary line 
between the Carolinas. Morgan's force consisted of about 
900 men. Against this position on Jan. 17, 1781, Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Tarleton led a force of about 1,100 men. The 
battle was well fought, and displayed remarkable gen- 
eralship on the part of Morgan. With his 900 men he 
surrounded and nearly annihilated Tarleton's 1,100. The 
British lost 230 in killed and wounded, 600 prisoners and 
all their guns, the colonel and 270 men only escaping. 
The Americans lost but 12 killed and 61 wounded. Two 
standards, 100 horses, thirty-five wagons, 800 muskets and 
two cannon were captured. 

McCowan's Ford— [Feb. 1, 1781]— After the battle at 
the Cowpens, General Morgan started to rejoin the main 
army. Recrossing the Catawba at Sherrard's Ford, Jan. 
29, 1781, he was joined by General Greene. Cornwallis, 
in pursuit, on Feb. 1 crossed the Catawba at McCowan's 
Ford, twenty miles northwest of Charlotte, N. C, and six 
miles below where Greene lay with the main body of his 
army. General Davidson, who had been posted to guard 
this ford with about 300 Mecklenburg militia, was killed 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. Ill 

and the militia fled. The killed and wounded on the 
American side were said to number about 40; that of the 
British was 4 killed and 36 wounded. 

Haw Massacre— [Feb. 25, 1781]— Early in 1781, the 
loyalists of North Carolina and Virginia organized a corps 
under Col. Pyle to assist Cornwallis in the operations 
against their countrymen. Feb. 25, some 400 who had 
collected in the marshes of the Haw, a little north of the 
old Hillsborough and Salisbury road, two miles from the 
Allamance River in Orange county, Va., were surprised 
by Americans under Lee and Pickens. Ninety of them 
were killed on the spot and nearly all of the others were 
wounded. Some of the survivors escaped to their homes 
and others reached Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton's column, 
which was not more than a mile distant on the road. Not 
a man was lost on the American side. 

Wetzell's Mill— [March 6, 1781]— The movement of 
Pickens and Lee across the River Dan into North Caro- 
lina was followed shortly by General Greene with the 
main body of Americans, and Cornwallis, who had estab- 
lished himself at Hillsborough, N. C, began a retreat 
southward. Greene took a position near Guilford Court- 
house and extended the militia and light troops under 
Colonels Campbell and O. H. Williams down the Reedy 
fork toward the Haw River. Cornwallis ordered Colonel 
Webster and his brigade to attack this position. On 
March 6, 1781, Webster crossed the stream at Wetzell's 
Mill, in the face of a steady fire from Preston's and Camp- 
bell's riflemen. When the British reached the opposite 
bank the Americans retired in good order. The British 
admitted a loss of 30 men, but claim the American loss 
to have been upward of a hundred, though the Americans 
claim to have lost less than fifty and that the British loss 
exceeded that number. 



112 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Guilford — [March 15, 1781] — General Greene was re- 
inforced in his camp at the iron works on Troublesome 
Creek, N. C., by militia and Continentals, swelling his 
numbers to 4,404 men. With this army he took up a 
position on a series of hills near Guilford Courthouse, later 
called Martinsville, five miles northwest of Greenesbor- 
ough and eighty-seven miles west of Raleigh, N. C. In 
the arrangement of the forces the front line, composed of 
North Carolina militia under Generals Eaton and Butler, 
occupied the edge of a wood with cleared fields in front 
and flanked by Captain Singleton with two fieldpieces. 
The second line, 300 yards back in the woods, was com- 
posed of Virginia militia under Generals Stevens and Law- 
son. The third line occupied a hill 400 yards in the rear 
of the second, separated from it by a cleared space, and 
consisted of the Virginia and Maryland line of Continental 
troops, under Colonel Green and Lieutenant Colonel 
Hawes and Colonel Gunby and Lieutenant Colonel Ford, 
the whole under General Huger and Colonel Williams. 
The third line was covered on the right by Lieutenant 
Colonel Washington with the dragoons of the First and 
Third regiments, Captain Kirkwood, with the remains of 
the Delaware regiment, and a regiment of riflemen under 
Colonel Lynch. The left of the line was covered by 
Lieutenant Colonel Lee, with his legion, some light in- 
fantry and a corps of riflemen. Against this position Corn- 
wallis moved with about 2,200 men, on March 15, 1781, 
from his camp near the Quaker meeting house, between 
the forks of the Deep River. His advance under Tarleton 
was attacked by Lee, who after inflicting a loss of about 
thirty men retired to the main body. The British right 
was commanded by General Leslie and the left by Colonel 
Webster. McLeod's artillery formed the centre, while 
General O'Hare and Lieutenant Colonel Norton com- 




en 

W 
Ph 

o 
u 



w 

h 

H 
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- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 113 

manded the reserve. The front line of militia broke and 
fled at first fire and the other lines successively gave way, 
but slowly and in good order. After two hours of fighting 
with the advantage on the American side, General Greene 
ordered a retreat. The British loss was 99 killed, 
407 wounded and 26 missing, a total of 532, about one- 
quarter of their entire force. Cornwallis and General 
Leslie were the only British general officers not wounded. 
The American loss was 78 killed, 183 wounded, and 
1,046 missing, a total of 1,307. The large number of 
Americans reported missing was due to the fact that many 
of the militia fled at the first fire. Pitt and other parlia- 
mentary leaders in Great Britain regarded this battle as 
the precurser of ruin to British supremacy in the South. 
Cornwallis later retired to his Deep River camp. 

Fort Watson, S. C— [April 23, 1781]— While Cornwal- 
lis was operating in North Carolina Lord Rawdon re- 
mained at Camden and controlled South Carolina and 
established a line of communication between Charleston 
and Augusta, Ga. After the battle of Guilford, General 
Greene resolved to attempt to reclaim South Carolina and 
Georgia from the British. Sending Lieutenant Colonel 
Lee to join Sumter, then in the southern part of South 
Carolina, and dispatching Pickens to the western part of 
the State to collect the militia and invest Fort Ninety- 
six and Augusta, he moved toward Camden. Lee joined 
Marion in the swamps of the Black River and the two, on 
April 15, 1781, invested Fort Watson, a small stockade on 
Wrights' Bluff, near the eastern bank of the Santee, about 
five miles above Vance's Ferry in Sumter District, S. C. 
The place was garrisoned by 40 tories and 80 regulars, 
under Lieutenant McKay. April 23, the besieged surren- 
dered themselves prisoners of war, 114 in number. The 
Americans lost 2 killed and 6 wounded. 



114 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Augusta, Siege of— [May 23-June 6, 1781]— When the 
regular British troops were withdrawn from Georgia for 
service in the Carolinas, Augusta was placed in charge 
of Lieutenant Colonel Browne. With about 550 men, 300 
of whom were Creek and Cherokee Indians, Browne occu- 
pied a strong work called Fort Cornwallis, in the centre 
of the town, later the site of St. Paul's Church. A mile 
north of Fort Cornwallis was Fort Grierson, manned by 
Lieutenant Colonel Grierson and about 80 tories. 
General Greene had sent Pickens to invest Augusta and 
Lee hastened to his support. Colonel Elijah Clarke, with 
a body of Georgia militia, had been encamped in the vi- 
cinity of Augusta since April 16. On May 23, 1781, the 
combined forces moved against Fort Grierson, and the 
garrison after a slight resistance attempted to escape to 
Fort Cornwallis. The Major and 30 men were killed 
by Clarke's militia. After the occupation of Fort Grierson 
Fort Cornwallis was invested. On the nights of May 28th, 
29th and 31st sallies were made from the fort, and 
driven back after severe righting. June 6, 1781, Browne 
surrendered the place. The American loss during the 
siege was 51 killed and wounded, while the British had 52 
killed and 334 wounded and prisoners. Colonel Grierson 
was shot after he had surrendered, by Captain Alexander 
of the militia, and Colonel Browne was protected by a 
strong guard until he was paroled and sent to Savannah. 

Hobkirk's Hill— [April 25, 1781]— Leaving Cornwallis 
in possession of North Carolina, General Greene, in 
April, 1781, took up a position at Hobkirk's Hill, a high 
ridge about two miles north of the plains of Camden, S. C, 
where Lord Rawdon was stationed with 950 British. On 
the morning of April 25, 1781, mustering all his force, he 
made a sudden attack on the Americans. General Greene's 
force consisted of 1,446 men. Both armies were formed 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 115 

in regular lines, General Huger's Virginians forming the 
right wing of the American, the Marylanders under 
Colonel Williams the left wing, and Colonel Harrison's 
artillery the centre; Lieutenant Colonel Washington's 
cavalry and 250 North Carolina militia under Colonel 
Reade forming the reserve. The Americans were de- 
feated and both armies withdrew from the field in order, 
the British to Camden and the Americans to Saunders 
Creek and later to Rugeley's Mills. Rawdon*s victory did 
him no good, as Marion, Lee and Sumter had cut off his 
communication with Cornwallis on the east. The British 
lost 258 in killed, wounded and missing. The total cas- 
ualties on the American side were 271, of whom 20 
were killed, 115 wounded and 136 missing. Among those 
reported missing, 47 are known to have been wounded and 
prisoners. 

Petersburg or Blandford, Va.— [April 25, 1781]— The 
success of Lord Cornwallis in the Carolinas moved the 
British to energetic efforts toward the subjugation of 
Virginia, while the Americans neglected any effective 
measures for the defense of the State against invasion. 
It was this neglect that rendered Arnold's expedition 
against Richmond so successful. For the purpose of mak- 
ing the occupation complete, General Phillips was sent 
from New York with 2,000 men, and assumed command 
in Virginia. Landing at Portsmouth, Phillips dropped 
down to Hampton Roads, then proceeded up the James 
River and on April 24, 1781, landed at City Point, and the 
next day marched toward Petersburg. Within two miles 
of the town he encountered Captain House with a picket 
guard. These were driven back upon the main body of 
General Muhlenberg's army of about 1,000 militia posted 
at the eastern extremity of Blandford. The British ad- 
vanced in two columns under Lieutenant Colonels Sim- 



116 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

coe and Abercrombie. The militia perceiving that re- 
sistance would be useless, fell back in order, and Phillips' 
force entered Petersburg and destroyed 4,000 hogsheads 
of tobacco. Muhlenberg retreated to Chesterfield Court- 
house with a loss of about 60 in killed and wounded. 
The British loss was reported as 1 killed and 10 
wounded. 

Osborne's — [April 27, 1781] — Defensive works having 
been erected and occupied by the British at Portsmouth, 
Va., at the mouth of the James River, a movement 
against them by the French fleet was planned. For the 
purpose of co-operating with the fleet, a small naval force 
was collected at Osborne's, a small village on the south 
side of the James River, about fifteen miles below Rich- 
mond. April 27, 1781, Benedict Arnold, at the head of an 
expedition from Portsmouth, surprised the American 
squadron, and though his fire was briskly returned by the 
Tempest (twenty guns), the Renown (twenty-six guns), 
the Jefferson (14 guns) and some of the smaller vessels, 
he succeeded in taking the three brigs, two "ships, two 
schooners and five sloops, all laden with tobacco, flour and 
cordage. Four ships, five brigs and several smaller ves- 
sels, similarly laden, were burned or sunk. Among the 
property destroyed was upwards of 2,000 hogsheads of 
tobacco. No loss of life was reported on either side in 
this engagement. 

Fort Motte, S. C. — [May 12, 1781] — Among the posts 
established by Lord Rawdon in South Carolina for the 
purpose of keeping up communication with Charleston and 
Augusta (Ga.), from his position at Camden, was Fort 
Motte. This fort consisted of the residence of Mrs. Re- 
becca Motte on the southern bank of the Congaree River, 
a little above the junction of that stream and the Wateree, 
and about thirty-three miles south of Columbia. The 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 117 

house was surrounded by a stockade, a ditch and an abatis, 
and was garrisoned by 150 men under Lieutenant Mc- 
pherson. May 8, 1781, General Marion and Lieutenant 
Colonel Lee laid siege to the place, and on May 12 the 
garrison surrendered. No loss of life occurred. 

Fort Ninety-Six, Siege of— [May 21 to June 19, 1781]— 
One of the principal outposts of the British in South 
Carolina was Fort Ninety-six, near the village of Cam- 
bridge, Abbeyville county. In the earlier days it had been 
used as a protection against the Indians. With the British 
occupation of the State, it was strengthened from plans 
made by Lieutenant Haldane of Cornwallis' engineers. 
It was garrisoned by 550 tories, consisting of 150 of De- 
lancy's New York battalion, 200 of the Second New Jersey 
battalion and about 200 South Carolinians under Colonel 
King, the whole in command of Lieutenant Colonel Cru- 
ger, a New York tory. May 21, 1781, the advance of 
General Greene's army appeared before the fort. Under 
the direction of Kosciusko parallels were begun and saps 
run toward the works. Operations were carried on under 
fire and interrupted by frequent sorties from the fort. 
June 8, Greene was joined by Pickens and Lee. Lord 
Rawdon, who had left Camden for Charleston, had been 
joined by three regiments from Ireland, and started to 
relieve the fort. June 18, 1781, the third parallel was 
completed, and an unsuccessful assault made. Unwilling 
to risk an. engagement with Rawdon, who was now close 
at hand, General Greene on June 19 withdrew his forces 
and retired toward Charlotte, N. C. Rawdon pursued the 
Americans to the south side of the Enoree River and then 
returned to Ninety-six, and the place was soon after evacu- 
ated. The American loss at the siege of Ninety-six was 
155 killed and wounded; that of the British, 85. Among 
the Americans killed was Captain Armstrong of Maryland. 



118 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Spencer's Ordinary — [June 26, 1781] — Cornwallis, from 
his headquarters at Williamsburg, Va., sent out marauding 
parties to destroy property and confiscate cattle. One 
of these parties, consisting of the Queen's Rangers and 
a party of Yagers under Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe, were 
returning to headquarters with a drove of cattle, and on 
June 26, 1781, had encamped in the vicinity of Spencer's 
Ordinary, a tavern at the junction of the Williamsburg 
and Jamestown roads and about seven miles from the 
former place. General'Lafayette had been sent to Vir- 
ginia with some 1,200 light infantry. When he learned 
of the expedition under Simcoe he detached Lieutenant 
Colonel Butler with his own regiment of riflemen and two 
other corps under Majors Call and Willis, and a party of 
120 horse under Major McPherson. A sharp conflict en- 
sued, and both parties retired from the field, each claim- 
ing the victory. The British admit the loss of about 
35 men, but Lafayette declared they lost more than 150. 
The American loss was not reported. 

Jamestown, Va. — [July 6, 1781] — Cornwallis moved his 
army from Williamsburg, Va., July 4, 1781, and marched 
to Jamestown ford for the purpose of crossing to the south 
of the James River. Lafayette was encamped in the im- 
mediate vicinity, and after Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe and 
the Queen's Rangers had crossed the river, Lafayette, on 
July 6, 1781, attacked the main body of the British Army. 
His force consisted of Colonel Armand's cavalry, Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Mercer's command, led by Major McPher- 
son, General Wayne with a body of Continentals of the 
Pennsylvania line; Steuben, with a body of militia re- 
mained at Green Spring as a reserve. Lieutenant Colonels 
Yorke and Dundas commanded the right and left wings 
of the British Army, while Cornwallis in person led the 
centre. The attack was a failure on the part of the Ameri- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 119 

cans, but was severe enough to prevent pursuit, and La- 
fayette withdrew to Green Spring, while Cornwallis 
crossed over to Jamestown Island. The loss of the Ameri- 
cans in this action, with the exception of the riflemen, 
which was not reported, was 118 killed, wounded and 
missing; that of the British was about 75. 

Quinby's Creek— [July 17, 1781]— After General 
Greene's retreat from Fort Ninety-six he moved toward 
the High Hills of the Santee River in South Carolina to 
pass the heated term of summer and recruit the health of 
his men. Generals Sumter and Marion and Lieutenant 
Colonel Lee, with the light troops, were ordered to dis- 
lodge Colonel Coates, who with the Nineteenth regiment 
of British regulars and some other forces, aggregating 650 
men, was posted at Monk's Corner, S. C, north of Charles- 
ton. With the approach of the Americans, Colonel Coates 
retreated toward Charleston. Lee, with his cavalry and 
Colonel Mayham's command, started in pursuit, and on 
July 17, 1781, came up with the rear guard of the British 
under Colonel Campbell at the Bridge crossing Quinby's 
Creek, a branch of the Cooper River. Here a desperate 
encounter took place lasting three hours, and during the 
night the Americans withdrew and Colonel Coates con- 
tinued on his way to Charleston. The loss of neither 
party has been officially recorded, though the Americans 
claim to have killed 70 and wounded many more, with a 
loss to themselves of about 40 killed and wounded. 

Eutaw Springs — [Sept. 8, 1781] — General Greene broke 
up his camp on the High Hills of the Santee Aug. 22, 
1781, and moved gradually toward the British Army, 
being joined on the way by the several detachments of his 
command. Lord Rawdon had been succeeded in the com- 
mand of the Southern division of the British Army by 
Lieutenant Colonel Stewart. Upon the approach of 



120 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Greene, Stewart left his camp at Orangeburg, and moved 
to Eutaw Springs, in the northern part of the Charleston 
District, about 60 miles northwest of the city of Charles- 
ton. His force consisted of the Third, Sixty-third and 
Sixty-fourth regiments of British regulars and the re- 
mains of the New York and New Jersey refugees, with 
some southern tories, numbering in all some 2,300 men. 
On the morning of Sept. 8, 1781, General Greene attacked 
the British camp with about 2,500 men, consisting of 
Lieutenant Colonel Lee with his legion, the South Caro- 
lina State troops under Lieutenant Colonels Wade Hamp- 
ton and William Polk; General Marion, with a battalion 
of South Carolinians; four battalions of North Caro- 
linians, under Colonel Malmedy; one battalion of North 
Carolinians under General Pickens; the commands of 
Ashe, Armstrong and Blount, led by General Sumter and 
Sneed's Virginia battalion, led by Colonel Campbell; 
Howard's and Hardman's Maryland veterans under Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Williams ; Captain Gaines, with two three- 
pounders; Captain Browne with two six-pounders; and 
Lieutenant Colonel Washington with his dragoons and 
the veterans of the Delaware line. A fierce but indecisive 
battle was fought. The British were driven from the field 
and General Greene retired to the position he had occupied 
before the battle. Stewart retreated toward Charleston, 
harassed by Lee and Marion. The American loss was 139 
killed, including Lieutenant Colonel Campbell; 375 wound- 
ed, including Lieutenant Colonels Washington, Howard 
and Henderson; and 8 missing. The British loss was 
reported as 85 killed, 351 wounded and 247 miss- 
ing. The latter report is incorrect at least as to the miss- 
ing, for the number of prisoners taken by the Americans, 
exclusive of wounded, exceeded 430, instead of 247, as 
reported by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart. 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 121 

New London — [Sept. 6, 1781] — The concentration of 
the Southern division of the British Army in Yorktown, 
the arrival of the French forces in the Chesapeake Bay 
and the possibility of a decisive engagement caused Wash- 
ington to leave New York for Virginia. Benedict Arnold 
was relieved of his British command in Virginia and 
placed in charge of an expedition against Connecticut, his 
native State. His force numbered about 1,700 men, com- 
posed of three regiments of British regulars, with detach- 
ments of yagers, artillerists and tories. The expe- 
dition left New York Sept. 4, 1781, and on Sept. 6 landed 
at New London, Conn., on the west bank of the Thames 
River. Fort Trumbull, which defended the town on the 
western side of the harbor, was garrisoned by twenty-four 
men commanded by Captain Adam Shapley. Arnold 
landed with about 900 men and with little opposition drove 
the garrisons from Fort Trumbull and Fort Nonsense, an 
almost trifling defense on Town Hill west of the fort. Four 
or five British were reported killed or wounded in the 
attack on Fort Trumbull. Seven Americans were wound- 
ed in crossing the river to Fort Griswold, on the opposite 
side of the river on Groton Point. Having dispersed the 
garrison, Arnold burned the town and the shipping in the 
river. 

Fort Griswold— [Sept. 6, 1781]— When Arnold's expe- 
dition entered the harbor of New London, Conn., about 
800 men under Lieutenant Colonel Eyre were landed on 
the east side of the Thames River, on Groton Point, with 
orders to proceed against Fort Griswold, a strong stone 
fortification, garrisoned by about 150 men under com- 
mand of Lieutenant Colonel Ledyard. The attack began 
about noon Sept. 6, 1781, and after a resistance of forty 
minutes, during which Colonel Eyre was mortally wound- 
ed and his successor in command of the British was killed, 



122 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the garrison surrendered. Colonel Ledyard, who com- 
manded the fort, was murdered after the surrender, and 
the defenders of the fort were nearly all massacred. Dur- 
ing the assault on the fort only 6 of the garrison were 
killed and 18 wounded, and during the subsequent 
massacre 79 were killed and 17 were wounded. 
The most inhuman barbarities were practised upon 
the wounded and helpless Americans after the sur- 
render of Fort Griswold. After plundering and burning 
the buildings at Groton, the British re-embarked, taking 
with them about 70 prisoners. The British loss on the 
expedition was 48 killed and 145 wounded. 

Yorktown— [Sept. 28 to Oct. 19, 1781]— After the battle 
of Jamestown, or Green Spring, Lafayette withdrew the 
American army to Malvern Hill, and Cornwallis hurried 
on toward Yorktown, which place Sir Henry Clinton de- 
signed to be held as a British post in the absence of suffi- 
cient force to hold the entire State of Virginia. By Aug. 
27, 1781, the entire British army in Virginia, consisting 
of 9,433 men, was concentrated at Yorktown and Glouces- 
ter Point, just across the York River. Aug. 30, Count 
De Grasse arrived in Chesapeake Bay with 26 French 
ships of the line besides frigates and transports. Sept. 3, 
Count De St. Simon landed at Jamestown with 3,200 
French troops, and the allied armies, numbering 12,000 
regular troops and 4,000 militia under Washington and 
Lafayette occupied Williamsburg, about 15 miles from 
Yorktown. Sept. 28, the army advanced and took a posi- 
tion about two miles from the British works, and on the 
29th a general movement was begun to encircle the town 
and close in upon its defenders. On the Gloucester side 
the siege was maintained by the Duke de Lauzun, with his 
legion of French cavalry and 800 marines from De 
Grasse's squadron, besides a body of Virginia militia un- 



THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 123 

der General Weedon. Oct. 6, the first parallel was opened 
by General Lincoln within 600 yards of the enemy, 
and heavy guns were placed in position with the loss of 
1 French officer and 16 privates. On the 11th, a 
second parallel was established, with the loss of 1 man 
killed and two or three wounded. On the 14th, the two 
advanced redoubts of the British were taken by storm by 
the American light infantry under direction of Lafayette 
and the French under Baron Viomenil. The American 
loss was 9 killed and 32 wounded. Three French 
officers were wounded. The British lost 8 killed 
and 17 prisoners. On the morning of the 16th, an 
unsuccessful sortie was made on the advanced Ameri- 
can redoubts by about 350 British under Lieutenant 
Colonel Abercrombie. About 100 French troops were 
killed or wounded, with little loss and no advantage to the 
British. An attempt made by Cornwallis's army to escape 
in boats that night was frustrated by a storm, and on the 
morning of Oct. 17, 1781, a flag was sent to Washington 
making overtures for surrender. On the 19th, articles of 
capitulation were signed by Washington and Cornwallis. 
The land forces became prisoners to the United States, 
and the marine force to the French. The total number of 
officers and men from the army surrendered was 7,073; 
from the marine, 900. One hundred and forty-four guns, 
six British and eighteen regimental standards were cap- 
tured. The military chest contained £2,113. The Guada- 
loupe, Fowey, Benetta and Vulcan, together with thirty 
transports, fifteen galleys and many smaller vessels fell 
into the hands of the French. The total casualties of the 
siege were: British, 156 killed, 326 wounded and 70 
missing. Americans: 23 killed, 65 wounded. French: 
52 killed, 134 wounded. This practically ended the war, 
and the treaty of peace was signed Sept. 3, 1783. 



124 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Blue Licks— [August 19, 1782]— The British endeav- 
ored to incite the Indians west of the Alleghanies against 
the white settlers. During the summer of 1782, two 
British captains, Caldwell and McKee, left Fort Detroit 
with a party of rangers, and, travelling southward, gath- 
ered an army of more than a thousand Indians. Their 
destination was Wheeling, but before they reached the 
Ohio River most of the savages deserted, leaving about 
300 lake Indians. With these McKee and Caldwell 
crossed the Ohio River and proceeded against the small 
forts which the pioneers had built. The original Fayette 
County, Kentucky, lying between the Kentucky and Ohio 
Rivers, contained five of these forts — Bryan's, McGee's, 
McConnell's, Boone's and Lexington. August 16, the 
Indians attacked Bryan's but withdrew next day, having 
lost 5 killed, the defenders losing 4 killed and 3 wounded. 

Fayette County men under Lieutenant John Todd, 
Major Levi Todd, Colonel Trigg and Majors McGarry 
and Harlan, numbering 182 mounted pioneer riflemen, 
were soon in pursuit, with Lieutenant Logan preparing 
to follow. The retreating Indians followed the Blue 
Licks, a broad buffalo track, which led to a ford of the 
Kentucky River. They were discovered on the morning 
of August 19, leaving their camp on the opposite bank. 
Contrary to the advice of Daniel Boone and other veteran 
Indian fighters, an attack was made. The whites were 
far outnumbered, and, after a close-to-hand fight of five 
minutes, they fled in panic for the river, where those first 
over checked the pursuers. The Kentuckians lost 70 
killed, 12 wounded and 7 prisoners, 4 of the latter being 
put to death. A French ranger and 6 Indians were killed 
and 10 Indians wounded. In a day or two Logan came 
up with 400 Kentuckians, but the Indians had recrossed 
the Ohio and disappeared. 



THE MIAMI CAMPAIGNS. 



After the close of the War of the Revolution the Brit- 
ish maintained their alliance with the Indians. Powerful 
chiefs were pensioned and many presents were made to 
the tribes. The fur-trading interests of the Northwest 
Territory looked with disapproval on the flood of immi- 
grants which threatened to replace the game forests with 
fields of grain and domestic herds. 

The settlers soon learned to protect themselves as well 
as their inferior numbers would permit. They were often 
short of arms and ammunition and frequently made ap- 
peals to the territorial Governors and to Congress for aid. 
The policy of Congress was to avoid force, and secure 
friendship through treaties. The Indians continually 
plundered the settlers and occasionally, though perhaps 
under provocation, broke out into fierce marauding expe- 
ditions. 

The federal soldiers and militia when sent against the 
marauders, usually failed, the former from inefficiency and 
the latter from lack of discipline. 

The Ohio River, the chief artery of commerce, suffered 
most. In 1790, citizens of Kentucky sent word to General 
Josiah Harmar, who was posted at Fort Harmar, now 
Marietta, imploring him to break up the camps along 
the river, claiming on good authority that during the 
seven years immediately following the close of the War 
of the Revolution, as many as 1,500 Kentucky immigrants 
had perished at the hands of the Indians. Harmar's ef- 
forts resulted in dispersing the Indians for a time, but 
they soon reassembled. 



126 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

The principal expeditions were against the Miami towns. 
Arriving at the headwaters of the Miami River, Oct. 17, 
Harmar found the huts deserted. In skirmishes with 
the Indians during the next few days the militia were de- 
feated, but they destroyed the provisions and habitations 
of the Miamis. Other tribes now joined the Miamis and 
made open war on the settlers. 

The following year General St. Clair was authorized to 
raise an army of militia, volunteers and regulars and pro- 
ceed against the Miamis, while the Kentucky militia were 
to attack the Wabash tribes to prevent them giving 
assistance to their neighbors. St. Clair's army, when as- 
sembled at Fort Washington, on the site of the present 
city of Cincinnati, consisted of two regiments of regulars, 
two of volunteers, a few cavalrymen and Kentucky militia, 
and two batteries of light guns. This expedition was at- 
tacked Nov. 4, and utterly routed, only about one-third 
escaping. More peace overtures were then made by the 
general government toward the Indians, but they were 
rejected and the bearers of a flag of truce were killed. 

Anthony Wayne succeeded St. Clair in the command of 
the army. He organized an expedition and marched to 
the Indian country, built Fort Recovery on the site of 
St. Clair's defeat, and Fort Defiance on the banks of the 
Maumee. On August 20, 1794, Wayne attacked the In- 
dians at the rapids of the Maumee and in a short, well 
fought battle defeated them. He then laid waste their 
crops and burned the buildings of their British allies. 

This battle was followed by a formal treaty with the 
Chippewas, Delawares, Eel Rivers, Kaskaskias, Kicka- 
poos, Miamis, Ottawas, Piankeshaws, Pottawatomies, 
Shawnees, Weas and Wyandots, more than 1,100 dele- 
gates from the hostile tribes meeting General Wayne in 
council in Greenville, June 17, 1795. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Miami Towns Destroyed — [Oct. 17 to 22, 1790] — In re- 
sponse to an appeal by citizens of Kentucky, General Jo- 
siah Harmar, who was in command of the federal troops 
in the Northwest Territory, started out to punish the Mi- 
amis. In the latter part of September, 1790, the expe- 
dition, consisting of 320 federal troops and 1,133 Pennsyl- 
vania and Kentucky militia, left Fort Washington, now 
the city of Cincinnati, on the north bank of the Ohio. 
After a march of 170 miles northward they arrived, Oct. 
17, at the Miami towns, where the St. Mary and St. 
Joseph Rivers unite to form the Miami. The towns con- 
sisted of about 200 huts and wigwams. They had been 
deserted upon the approach of the whites, who plundered 
and destroyed them. In the following days, several skir- 
mishes with Indians occurred in the neighborhood, the 
results being either humiliating defeat or unsatisfactory 
triumph. On the 22d, after having started the homeward 
march, Colonel Hardin returned with 400 men, and in the 
final skirmish Major Wyllys and most of the 60 regulars 
under his command were cut off from the main body and 
killed. In the several encounters the regulars lost 75 men 
killed and 3 wounded, and the militia had 28 wounded 
and 108 killed or missing, a total of 214. 

St. Clair's Defeat— [Nov. 4, 1791]— General Arthur St. 
Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory, organized 
an expedition against the Miamis in September, 1791. 
Volunteers were enlisted in the cities of the east and sent 
by way of Pittsburg, down the Ohio to Fort Washington. 
Two small regiments of regulars were assigned to him 



128 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

and a number of Kentucky militia and a few cavalry also 
joined. After various delays the command, numbering 
about 1,400, reached the eastern fork of the Wabash River, 
some fifty miles from the Miami towns, Nov. 3, sur- 
rounded by Indians. At sunrise on the morning of the 
4th a savage attack was made which threw the camp into 
confusion. Little Turtle, chief of the Miamis, was present 
with picked warriors of the Delawares, Shawnees and 
Wyandots. The number of the attacking party is un- 
known. The savages fought with all the ferocity for 
which they were noted, and the whites blindly defended 
themselves, until ordered by St. Clair to retreat, when 
they rushed in disorder toward Fort Washington. The 
killed numbered 630, the wounded 280, only about 500 
escaping. Two were taken prisoners. In January follow- 
ing the dead were buried by Wilkinson's Kentucky vol- 
unteers. 

Fallen Timbers, or Maumee Rapids — [August 20, 
1794] — General Anthony Wayne, having succeeded St. 
Clair in command of the American army, established a 
camp, which he called Hobson's Choice, on the Ohio be- 
tween Cincinnati and Mill Creek and patiently set about 
drilling officers and men for a campaign against the In- 
dians. In May, 1793, he advanced to Fort Washington, 
encamped for the winter about eighty miles farther north, 
and built Fort Recovery on the site of St. Clair's defeat. 
In the spring and early summer of 1794, he marched to 
where the Miami villages began, at the juncture of the 
Au Glaize and the Maumee. August 8, he halted and built 
Fort Defiance. 

August 20, 1794, Wayne marched with 3,000 men — 
2,000 regulars and 1,000 Kentucky volunteers under Gen- 
eral Scott — to battle with the Indians. His army was well 
drilled and disciplined and knew what to expect. The 



THE MIAMI CAMPAIGNS. 129 

savages had been lurking about the camp ever since leav- 
ing the Ohio, and surprise was impossible, as several skir- 
mishes had already taken place. The Indians formed at 
a place called Fallen Timbers, where a dense forest had 
been struck by a tornado and trees had been blown down 
and lay piled across one another. At least 2,000 Indians 
had gathered, consisting of Shawnees, Delawares, Wyan- 
dots, Ottawas, Miamis, Chippewas, Pottawatomies and 
Iroquois. There were also about 70 English, French and 
American rangers present with the British agent, Mc- 
Kee, Simon Girty and other renegade whites. Wayne's 
orders were to fire and charge. The savages were rushed 
at such close quarters they had no time to reload their 
weapons or pursue their favorite tactics. They were so 
completely routed that only the first line of regulars, 
about 1,000, got into action. The battle lasted three- 
quarters of an hour. Only 33 Americans were killed and 
100 wounded, 11 fatally. The Indians lost about three 
times as many, including 8 Wyandot chiefs. 



HOSTILITIES WITH FRANCE. 



With the close of the War of the Revolution the Amer- 
ican army was practically disbanded. Jan. 3, 1784, 
General Knox reported the entire force as one regiment 
of infantry, numbering 527 men, and one battalion of ar- 
tillery, consisting of 138 men. 

Prejudice against a standing army had been inherited 
from the colonial days, and a navy was considered a use- 
less and expensive imitation of monarchical governments, 
until the depredations of the corsairs of the Mediter- 
ranean forced Congress to adopt measures to protect 
American merchant marine from the pirates of North Af- 
rica. These barbarians captured two American trading 
vessels in 1785, and within two months, during 1793, 
eleven merchantmen flying the flag of the United States 
were boarded and taken captive into foreign ports. 

In consequence of these depredations Congress (March 
27, 1794) reluctantly provided for the construction of six 
frigates — four of 44 and two of 36 guns. These vessels 
were designed by Joshua Humphreys, a Philadelphia 
shipbuilder, and work was begun upon them in the six 
seaports of Portsmouth, Boston, New York, Philadel- 
phia, Baltimore and Norfolk, under the direction of Cap- 
tains Barry, Nicholson, Talbot, Dale, Truxtun and Sever. 

In September, 1795, before these vessels were com- 
pleted, a treaty was concluded with Algiers, followed by 
similar conventions with Tunis and Tripoli, and naval con- 
struction ceased. Though not at present needed for the 
service for which they were designed, these frigates were 
destined to play an important part in later history. 



HOSTILITIES WITH FRANCE. 131 

During the European wars between 1793 and 1815 en- 
gendered by the French Revolution, the newly formed 
American republic remained a timid neutral, forced to 
endure the bufferings of all the aggressive belligerants. 
In December, 1793, Washington called the attention of 
Congress to the attacks on American commerce and pro- 
tests were made to the offending governments. The Jay 
treaty with Great Britain, concluded Nov. 19, 1794, 
settled the main questions in dispute with that country, 
and provided for a commission to pass upon claims of 
American citizens for property damages. 

With France, however, the American commissioners 
were unable to make terms. Anti-French feeling ran 
high, and Congress empowered the President to raise 
80,000 militia. French privateers and regular cruisers 
overhauled and took into port American trading vessels 
wherever encountered, and appeals to admiralty courts 
were found to be useless. The greater part of American 
cargoes were declared contraband, and all commerce was 
hampered. The scandalous failure of the mission of Messrs. 
Pinckney, Marshall and Gerry in 1798, determined Con- 
gress to adopt a policy of armed reprisal. 

Although no formal declaration of war was made, com- 
mercial intercourse with France was suspended June 12, 
1798; June 17, Washington was appointed lieutenant gen- 
eral commander in chief of the army; on the 21st, Presi- 
dent John Adams announced the failure of the French 
mission; and on the 25th, the alien act was passed; July 
6, all French treaties were declared no longer binding; 
on the 9th the President was authorized to instruct the 
naval force to subdue, seize and take any French naval 
vessel, and to issue letters of marque to privateers for the 
same purpose, and the next day these instructions were 
issued and the vessels were sent to sea as fast as they 



132 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

could be prepared; July 11, Congress passed an act or- 
ganizing the marine corps, followed on the 14th by the 
passage of the sedition law. 

April 27, 1798, $950,000 had been appropriated to pur- 
chase or build and fit out twelve vessels; on the 30th, the 
conduct of naval affairs was vested in the newly created 
cabinet officer, Benjamin Stoddert, the first Secretary of 
the Navy. May 4, appropriations were made for small 
vessels for harbor service; May 28, the President was 
authorized to instruct ships of war to seize any French 
vessel which had molested or which menaced American 
shipping. Other protective measures were passed, and 
by July 16, 1798, the country was possessed of thirty- 
eight good naval vessels — twelve frigates carrying 32 to 
44 guns, twelve carrying from 20 to 24 guns, six sloops 
with 18 or less, and eight revenue cutters. These ren- 
dezvoused in the West Indies, and were grouped into four 
squadrons. Captain Stephen Decatur, in the Delaware, 
made the first capture of the war — the Croyable, a French 
privateer schooner of 14 guns. The achievements of 
Truxtun in the Constellation and the capture of ninety 
French vessels, carrying more than 700 guns seemed to 
create a better disposition in France toward the United 
States and a treaty was signed Sept. 30, 1800, put- 
ting an end to hostilities. This treaty was ratified by 
France July 31, 1801, and by the United States Dec. 19, 
1801. By it the United States surrendered the claims 
of its citizens against France for wrongful seizure, thereby 
assuming the place of France in its obligation to the 
claimants. The indemnity claims thus devolving upon 
the United States were known as the French Spoliation 
Claims, and haunted Congress like a spectral reminder 
of past misdeeds until Jan. 20, 1885, when they were re- 
ferred to the Court of Claims. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Constellation-Insurgente — [Feb. 9, 1799] — One of the 
first vessels of the reorganized navy to be completed and 
put in service was the Constellation, a frigate of thirty- 
eight guns, twenty-eight 18-pounders and ten lighter 
pieces. This was made the flagship of one of the West 
Indian squadrons, and placed in command of Captain 
Thomas Truxtun. She carried a crew of 309 men. On 
Feb. 9, 1799, while cruising near the island of Nevis, 
one of the Leeward group, the Constellation was 
sighted and challenged by the French frigate Insurgente. 
By skillful seamanship Truxtun gained the advantage in 
position over his enemy. The Insurgente carried forty- 
eight guns — four 36-pounders, two 24-pounders, two 18- 
pounders, twenty-four 12-pounders, eight 6-pounders and 
eight swivels and 409 men, but the weight of her ordnance 
was only about half that of the Constellation. The Amer- 
ican gunners raked the decks of the Frenchman, but the 
latter, setting his guns too high, only injured the upper 
works of his enemy. The fighting was rapid and deci- 
sive. At the end of an hour and a quarter the Insurgente 
struck her colors. The prize was taken into port at St. 
Kitts by Lieutenant John Rodgers and Midshipman David 
Porter with 160 prisoners. The loss of the French was 
29 killed and 41 wounded, that of the Americans was 3 
wounded, 1 fatally. 

Constellation- Vengeance — [Feb. 2, 1800] — In the latter 
part of 1799 Truxtun, with the Constellation, was trans- 
ferred to the Windward Islands station, and on Feb. 2, 
1800, overtook the French frigate Vengeance, Captain 



134 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Pitot, carrying fifty-two guns (thirty-two long 18-pound- 
ers, twelve 36-pounders and ten long 12-pounders), and 
326 men, off the island of Guadaloupe. A running fight 
at close quarters was carried on from eight P. M. to one 
A. M., when the French frigate escaped in a squall. The 
casualties on the Constellation were 14 killed and 25 
wounded, 11 fatally. On La Vengeance 50 men were 
killed and 110 wounded. She put in at Curacoa in distress 
a few days later. 

Boston-Berceau — [Nov. 12, 1800] — While cruising be- 
tween the American coast and the West India Islands 
Nov. 12, 1800, the Boston, Captain Little, mounting 
thirty-two guns, and carrying a crew of about 200 men, 
fell in with the French corvette Berceau, Captain Senes, 
twenty-four guns and a crew of more than 200. The ves- 
sels came together in latitude 22° 50' N., and longitude 
51° W. After a struggle of two hours, the French Cap- 
tain struck his colors. The first lieutenant, master, 
boatswain and gunner were killed and some 30 others 
wounded, but the exact number was never reported. The 
casualties on the Boston were 4 killed and 11 wounded. 
The Berceau was one of the fastest vessels in the French 
navy. 

Experiment-La Diane — [Feb., 1800] — While cruising 
in her station in the West Indies, Feb., 1800, the Experi- 
ment, twelve guns, Lieutenant Charles Stewart, was 
pursued by a French brig carrying eighteen guns, and a 
man-of-war schooner, La Diane, fourteen guns, Captain 
Perradeau. By manoeuvring to separate the vessels, 
Captain Stewart easily took the schooner and her crew 
of 60. In addition she had aboard General Rigaud and 
30 invalid French soldiers bound home. 



WAR WITH THE BARBARY STATES. 



For hundreds of years back into the dark pages of his- 
tory the corsairs of the Barbary States of northern Africa 
had been a terror to the commerce of the world. They 
ruled the Mediterranean Sea and haunted the neighboring 
coasts outside the Strait of Gibraltar. They pounced 
upon and bore off as prizes any vessels and crews which 
were so unfortunate as to come within their horizon. 

It was the custom of these pirates to demand heavy 
ransom for the return of persons captured, and most of 
the European nations had settled down to the policy of 
paying tribute rather than risk their naval vessels on the 
rocky coasts of north Africa, as well as from various other 
motives of policy. Negotiations were carried on through 
the Spanish religious order of Mathurins, who devoted 
themselves to the liberation of Christians held captive 
by infidels. 

In 1785 the ship Dauphin, of Philadelphia, and the 
schooner Maria of Boston, were captured off the coast 
of Portugal and taken, with their cargoes and crews num- 
bering 21, to Algiers. Efforts to effect a ransom were 
made after the manner of European countries but without 
avail, owing to the exorbitant demands (about $3,000 per 
capita) of the Algerines. During the latter part of 1793, 
eleven American ships, with an aggregate of 109 men, 
were captured by the pirates. Congress reluctantly pro- 
vided for the building of half a dozen naval vessels, but 
before their completion a treaty was concluded (Septem- 
ber, 1795) with Algiers, at a cost of nearly a million dol- 
lars paid in ransoms, bribes and gratuities, and an obliga- 



136 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

tion to pay an indefinite sum, amounting to perhaps 
$50,000 annually. Similar treaties with Tunis and Tri- 
poli were made within the next two years. A treaty with 
Morocco had been concluded in 1787. 

Tunis and Tripoli soon became jealous of the tribute 
paid to Algiers and demanded increases. No attention 
was paid to these impertinences until, on May 14, 1801, 
the Pasha of Tripoli cut down the flagstaff of the Ameri- 
can consulate and notified Consul Cathcart that he de- 
clared war. 

Early in June, 1801, Commodore Richard Dale was sent 
to the Mediterranean with a squadron composed of the 
frigates President, Philadelphia and Essex and the 
schooner Enterprise. These vessels blockaded two Tri- 
politans inside Gibraltar for a year, captured and stripped 
another and then returned home. 

The second Mediterranean squadron consisted of the 
frigates Chesapeake, Constellation, New York, Adams 
and John Adams and the schooner Enterprise, under com- 
mand of Richard V. Morris. June 22, 1803, Captain John 
Rodgers, temporarily in command of this squadron, then 
blockading the harbor of Tripoli, attacked and destroyed 
the large cruiser Meshouda, as the latter was trying to 
force a passage. 

During this year a third squadron was sent to the 
Mediterranean. It consisted of the new brigs Argus and 
Siren of sixteen guns and the schooners Nautilus and 
Vixen, together with the Constitution, Philadelphia and 
Enterprise. Commodore Edward Preble was put in com- 
mand. 

Oct. 15, 1803, Preble arrived at Gibraltar and declared 
the blockade of Tripoli. On the 31st the frigate Phila- 
delphia, Captain William Bainbridge, forty-four guns, 
with 300 officers and men, was captured by Tripolitans 



WAR WITH THE BARBARY STATES. 137 

in their harbor. Feb. 16, 1804, the Philadelphia was blown 
up by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur and a picked crew. 

July 25, 1804, the squadron took up its position before 
Tripoli, and bombardments were made at frequent inter- 
vals until Sept. 10, when Preble was relieved by Commo- 
dore Barron. 

Next spring Commodore John Rodgers, who succeeded 
Barron, made a demonstration before Tripoli in such force 
that the Pasha, already sorely punished, sued for peace, 
and a treaty was concluded with him June 4, 1805. 

With the close of the War of 1812 the navy being in a 
high state of efficiency, it was decided to send a squadron 
to the Mediterranean to break up the system of blackmail 
which had been levied by the Barbarians. The Algerines, 
emboldened by the absence of American cruisers, during 
the war with Great Britain, had violated their treaty obli- 
gations and were again plundering American merchant 
vessels. March 3, 1815, just before the adjournment of 
the thirteenth Congress, war was declared against Algiers. 
May 19, Commodore Decatur sailed for the Mediterranean 
with three frigates, a sloop of war, four brigs and two 
schooners. June 28 he suddenly appeared before the city 
of Algiers, with two piratical cruisers already in his cus- 
tody, one the flagship of the Algerine fleet, which had 
been taken off Gibraltar. 

The Dey was so surprised that he freed his American 
prisoners without ransom and signed a treaty June 30, 
renouncing all claims to tribute and presents from the 
United States. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Enterprise-Tripoli — [August 1, 1801] — While running 
to Malta for a supply of water the Enterprise, Lieutenant 
Sterrett, of Commodore Dale's Mediterranean squadron,, 
on August 1, 1801, fell in with the Tripolitan ship Tripoli, 
commanded by Mahomet Sous, carrying a crew of 80 men 
and armed with fourteen 6-pounders. The Tripoli was 
hunting for American merchantmen, and as soon as Lieu- 
tenant Sterrett learned her character he opened fire. For 
three hours the battle raged at close quarters. Then the 
pirate threw his colors into the sea and begged for mercy. 
His vessel was wrecked and 20 of his crew were killed and 
30 wounded. 

Commodore Dale's instructions were to take no prizes, 
so the wreck was stripped and sent into port as an object 
lesson to the Tripolitans. The Enterprise carried twelve 
6-pounders and a crew of 90 men. Not a man was injured. 

Loss of the Philadelphia— [Oct. 31, 1803]— Just after 
the proclamation of the blockade of Tripoli by Commo- 
dore Preble, in October, 1803, Captain William Bain- 
bridge, in the frigate Philadelphia, with forty-four guns 
and 300 officers and men, while chasing a Tripolitan block- 
ade runner, struck on a rock in the harbor, and was com- 
pelled to surrender. 

On the 16th of the following February Lieutenant 
Stephen Decatur, with a picked crew of 75 men, on the 
captured Tripolitan ketch Intrepid, sailed into the har- 
bor, boarded the Philadelphia, beat off the pirate crew and 
blew her up without the loss of a man. 

Tripoli Bombarded— [August 3, 7, Sept. 3, 4, 1804] — 



WAR WITH THE BARBARY STATES. 139 

Tripoli, the capital and seaport of the State of Tripoli, 
was a town of about 30,000 inhabitants, lying on the south 
shore of a rock-bound harbor flanked by long stretches of 
sandy beach. Its water front was protected by heavy walls 
of masonry and outlying forts. The garrison consisted of 
Arabs, Berbers and Moors. The entire American squadron 
was in position before the harbor of Tripoli when, on Aug- 
ust 3, 1804, a flotilla of twenty-one gunboats tried to break 
through. Six American boats, in two divisions, under the 
respective commands of Lieutenants Richard Somers and 
Stephen Decatur, under cover of the fire of the fleet, op- 
posed them. Three were boarded and captured, three 
were sunk and the remainder were scattered. Meantime 
the fleet had been battering at the walls of the town. The 
American casualties were Lieutenant James Decatur 
killed and 13 men wounded. 

August 7 the gunboats and mortars attacked and si- 
lenced the battery west of the city. One of the prize 
gunboats was blown up and 10 men were killed, includ- 
ing Lieutenant Caldwell. 

Sept. 3 a general engagement took place, in which 
the batteries east of the town were silenced, the Moorish 
gunners being unable to stand to their guns in the face 
of the American fire. The vessels were only slightly 
damaged in their upper works. The pasha now showed 
signs of weakening. 

Sept. 4 the Intrepid, with 100 barrels of powder aboard, 
was sent into the harbor. Fixed shells were placed in 
different parts of the vessel, and it was planned to float 
up close to the walls, light the fuses and have the crew 
escape in boats. Lieutenant Somers was placed in com- 
mand with Lieutenants Wadsworth and Israel of the 
Constitution, and ten men. The stratagem was dis- 
covered and the Intrepid was fired on by the enemy. The 



140 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

explosion took place and all on board were lost, whether 
by their own act or by the enemy's fire is unknown. 

Guerriere-Meshouda — [June 17, 1815] — By the middle 
of June, 1815, Decatur's squadron was anchored off Tan- 
gier. On the 17th, when off Cape de Gatte, the Algerine 
frigate Meshouda, 46 guns, was sighted. After a chase the 
Guerriere ran alongside under a heavy fire and delivered 
two broadsides into the Algerine, which were followed by 
a raking fire from the Epervier, which had come in for a 
share of the prize. After a fight of about twenty-five min- 
utes, the Meshouda surrendered and 406 of her crew were 
made prisoners. Admiral Rais Hammida, her commander, 
and about 30 of his crew were killed. On the Guerriere, 
5 men were killed and 30 wounded by the bursting of a 
gun, and 4 were wounded by the enemy's fire. A prize crew 
was placed aboard and the Meshouda was sent captive to 
Carthagena. 

Estedio, Capture of — [June 19, 1815] — After taking the 
Meshouda, Decatur continued on his course toward Al- 
giers. June 19, 1815, off Cape Palos, the Algerine brig 
Estedio, 22 guns, with 180 men aboard, was chased into 
shallow water, and, after a short resistance, was captured 
by the Epervier, Spark, Torch and Spitfire of Decatur's 
squadron. On board 23 men were found dead and 80 were 
taken prisoners. The remainder got off in boats, one of 
which was sunk by a shot before reaching shore. The 
Estedio was also taken to Carthagena as a prize. 



HARRISON'S INDIAN CAMPAIGN. 



William Henry Harrison, who had been on the staff 
of General Anthony Wayne at the battle of Maumee 
Rapids, and Secretary to General Arthur St. Clair, Gover- 
nor of the Northwest Territory, was appointed, in 1801, 
Governor of the Indiana Territory, from which was later 
formed the states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis- 
consin. In 1806, Tecumseh, chief of the Shawnees, and 
his brother, Elkswatana, called the Prophet, formed a plan 
for a great confederacy of all the western and southern 
Indians against the whites. 

Their doctrine was opposed to tribal rights, and they 
claimed that no part of the territory could be sold by any 
tribe to the whites without the consent of all the Indians. 
By the close of 1805 Harrison had extinguished Indian 
titles to 46,000 acres of land in the territory. Sept. 30, 
1809, he concluded a treaty by which, for $10,550, he se- 
cured nearly 3,000,000 acres along the Wabash and White 
rivers. Tecumseh and the Prophet told the Indians they 
were cheated by the treaties, and appealed to their savage 
nature to turn against the whites. 

Harrison had negotiated the treaties of Vincennes and 
Fort Wayne, and knew the temper of the Indians. He 
tried to make terms with them, but without avail. In 
1811, having discovered evidence of their immediate hos- 
tile intention, Harrison marched against their village, and 
pending a conference was attacked in force. The Indians 
were repulsed and their town burned and their prestige 
destroyed. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Tippecanoe— [Nov. 7, 1811]— About 1808 Tecumseh es- 
tablished his council fire on the banks of the Tippecanoe 
River in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, near the site of the 
present village of Battle Ground. Much dissatisfaction 
and hostile feeling existed among the Indians, over the 
land cessions of 1809. William H. Harrison, governor 
of the new territory of Indiana, was aware of this feeling 
and prepared for defence. While building a stockade on 
the site of the present city of Terre Haute, Oct. 11, 1811, 
one of the white sentinels was killed by an Indian in am- 
bush. This determined Harrison to march against the 
camp at Tippecanoe. On the night of Nov. 6, 1811, he 
encamped within a mile of the Indian village, and the 
Prophet had agreed to a conference on the following day. 
Harrison's party consisted of about 800, including 500 In- 
dians and Kentucky militiamen. The hostile Indians 
were estimated by Harrison at 700. They were under the 
command of White Loon, Stone Eater, and Winnemac, 
Tecumseh being then on a mission to the Creeks and 
Cherokees to induce them to join his confederacy. 

Without waiting for the promised conference or even 
the dawn of the day, the savages made a furious assault 
on Harrison's camp, which they maintained with fero- 
cious bravery for two hours. The loss to the whites was 
37 killed and 151 wounded. That of the Indians was 
never ascertained. Next day Harrison advanced to the 
town, found it deserted, destroyed it and returned to Vin- 
cennes. This disaster broke the power of Tecumseh. 



THE WAR OF 1812. 



During the Napoleonic wars in Europe the relations of 
America with both England and France were severely- 
strained. The commerce of the United States was highly- 
prosperous, her ships enjoying much of the carrying trade 
of Europe, when, in June, 1793, a British order in council 
forbade neutral states to trade with countries at war with 
England. The Jay treaty, ratified August 14, 1795, set- 
tled some of the questions at issue between the two coun- 
tries, but failed to define the questions of neutrality be- 
tween English and French privateers and the rights of 
sailors in American ships. 

In her desperate efforts to stay the power of Napoleon, 
Great Britain exercised with increasing severity her self- 
asserted right of search and impressment. She refused 
to admit to her subjects the right of expatriation and 
change of allegiance by naturalization. American vessels 
were intercepted and searched. Sailors were taken from 
them and impressed into the British service, including 
some who had never acknowledged allegiance to England. 

Napoleon, seeking to effect the commercial isolation of 
Great Britain, issued successive decrees from Berlin, Milan 
and Rambouillet, forbidding neutral powers to trade with 
England. These, with the retaliatory orders in council 
issued by the King of England in 1807, were unjustifiable 
under the laws of nations and peculiarly oppressive to 
American commerce. The order of Nov. 11, 1807, pro- 
hibited trade from the United States to any European 
country under Napoleon's power. 

Congress retaliated by passing, Dec. 22, 1807, an em- 



144 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

bargo act, prohibiting the sailing of merchant vessels,. 
except coasters, from American ports. This proved a 
great hardship to commerce and paralyzed trade. Feb. 
28, 1809, the embargo act was repealed and a non-inter- 
course law passed, forbidding British or French vessels 
to enter American ports. This law contained induce- 
ments for either France or England to rescind its restric- 
tions upon American commerce, with the result that 
France, after three years, repealed her obnoxious decrees. 
Great Britain followed by the repeal of her orders in coun- 
cil, but just five days previous, June 18, 1812, war had 
been declared against her by the United States. 

The war opened in the north by the invasion of Canada 
by General Hull, territorial governor of Michigan. He 
surrendered his whole force without fighting, and Michi- 
gan and Ohio were overrun by the British and Indians. 

In 1813 the British invaded western New York and 
burned several towns and Commodore Perry, in command 
of the American fleet on Lake Erie, defeated and cap- 
tured the British squadron. 

In 1814 the British were reinforced by veteran troops 
from Europe, but the American soldiers were learning 
discipline and new officers were coming to the front. 
Generals Brown and Scott defeated the British at Chip- 
pewa and Lundy's Lane, and Sir George Prevost's invad- 
ing army was defeated through the destruction, off Platts- 
burg, N. Y., of the supporting squadron by the American 
fleet on Lake Champlain by Commodore MacDonough. 

During 1812 and 1813 the half dozen American frigates 
and as many sloops of war heroically contended with the 
British cruisers and later with powerful men of war, but 
were captured or blockaded in harbors, and in 1814, Brit- 
ish fleets cruised along the coast at will, though the 
enemy's commerce suffered from American privateers. 




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THE WAR OF 1812. 145 

In August, 1814, a British army, under General Ross, 
supported by a powerful fleet under Admirals Cockburn 
and Cochrane, captured Washington, after meeting a 
feeble resistance at Bladensburg. They burned the capi- 
tol and the President's mansion. 

In December the British General Pakenham, with a su- 
perior force of Wellington's veterans, advanced against 
New Orleans. General Jackson commanded the defence. 
Jan. 8, 1815, the attack was made. Pakenham was killed, 
as was also his next in command. The British were re- 
pulsed with a loss of 2,600 men, while the American loss 
was less than 100. Peace had, however, been concluded 
at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814. All conquests on both sides 
were restored. Napoleon had been defeated by the allied 
powers, and the tranquility of Europe having been at- 
tained, there was no occasion for the operation of the 
orders, claims and decrees that caused the war, and no 
mention of them was made in the treaty of Ghent. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Aux Canards — [July 12, 1812] — The first encounter be- 
tween British and Americans in the War of 1812. Gen- 
eral Hull, governor of the Northwest Territory, was 
placed in command of forces in Ohio and ordered to be- 
gin the invasion of Canada by taking possession of Fort 
Maiden, fifteen miles south of Detroit, on the opposite 
side of the river. He crossed the river on July 12, 1812, 
and dispatched Colonel Cass with 280 men toward Mai- 
den. Crossing the Riviere Aux Canards, a tributary of 
the Detroit, he encountered the British outposts about 
four miles below the fort. He drove them into the post 
and took two prisoners, from whom he learned that some 
of the enemy had been killed and 9 or 10 wounded, while 
Cass did not lose a man. 

Fort Mackinac— [July 17, 1812]— The War of 1812 was 
proclaimed June 18. The British in Canada learned of it 
sooner than their adversaries across the lakes. July 17, 
a force of 600 British and Indians under Captain Roberts, 
surprised the garrison of 61 officers and men under Lieu- 
tenant Hancks, at Fort Michilimackinac, or Mackinac. 
The place was surrendered without the loss of a man. 

Turkey Creek Bridge— [July 25, 1812]— One of the pre- 
liminary skirmishes of the War of 1812. Major Denny, 
with 117 militiamen, had been sent to open the way for 
the advance of the American army upon Fort Maiden. 
July 25, he encountered a body of Indians at Turkey 
Creek Bridge and was forced back to camp with the loss 
of 6 killed and 2 wounded. This is the first bloodshed 
known to have taken place in the War of 1812. 



THE WAR OF 1812. 147 

Brownstown — [August 5,1812] — In July, 1812, Governor 
Meigs, of Ohio, sent Captain Brush, with men, cattle and 
provisions, to the relief of General Hull, who had crossed 
the Detroit River into Canada. Learning that a body of 
British and Indians were lying in wait at Brownstown, at 
the mouth of the Huron River, to intercept his supplies, 
Hull sent Major Thomas B. Van Home with 200 men 
from Findlay's Ohio regiment to act as an escort from the 
River Raisin to the destination in Canada. Van Home's 
detachment had crossed the Ecorces River and were ap- 
proaching Brownstown, August 5, when they found them- 
selves in an ambush and almost surrounded by Indians 
under Tecumseh. The party retreated in disorder to the 
Ecorces, pursued part of the way by the Indians, who cap- 
tured the mail. The detachment lost 17 men killed and 
several wounded who were left behind. 

Maguaga — [August, 9, 1812] — After the failure of Major 
Van Home's expedition to open communication between 
Hull's army in Canada and the supply train sent to his re- 
lief, the entire American army recrossed the Detroit River 
and a second detachment, consisting of 600 men under 
Lieutenant-Colonel James Miller, was sent toward the 
River Raisin to escort Colonel Brush to Detroit. On Au- 
gust 9, 1812, the command reached the Oak Woods, near 
Maguaga, Mich., where they were set upon by 260 British 
regulars and Canada militia under Major Muir, and some 
300 Indians- led by Tecumseh. The British and Indians 
were totally routed. The casualties were : British regu- 
lars 24, only one of whom was killed; militia and Indian 
loss not reported, but Americans reported 40 of the latter 
found dead upon the field; American loss, 18 killed and 57 
wounded. 

Essex-Alert— [August 13, 1812]— The British sloop of 
war Alert, Captain T. L. P. Laugharne, out for the pur- 



148 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

pose of taking the Hornet, fell in with the United States 
frigate Essex, Captain David Porter, carrying 46 guns, 
on Aug. 13, 1812, and began the attack cheering. After 
eight minutes of firing the Alert, much cut up and with 
seven feet of water in her hold, struck her colors. Three 
men were wounded. There were no casualties on the 
Essex. 

Chicago Indian Massacre — [August 15, 1812] — At the 
breaking out of the War of 1812 Captain Nathan Heald 
was in command of Fort Dearborn at the mouth of the 
Chicago River, where now stands the city of Chicago. The 
garrison consisted of about 50 soldiers. General Hull 
ordered this small body to abandon Fort Dearborn and 
join him at Detroit. Captain Heald's party were pursued 
by Indians and on August 15, 1812, waylaid among the 
sand-hills along the lake shore, and the greater part of 
them, including twelve children, were massacred. 

Detroit, Surrender of — [August 16, 1812] — In August, 
1812, Colonel Proctor, in command of the British troops 
in Canada, was joined by General Brock with a body of 
militia and some Indians under Tecumseh, swelling the 
forces at Sandwich to 1,330 men, 600 of whom were In- 
dians. General Hull, in command at Fort Detroit, on the 
opposite side of the river, had 1,000 men available for 
duty. August 16, the British began a bombardment and 
sent a party of Indians and regulars across the river to 
assault the works. Hull surrendered the fort and the 
whole territory of Michigan, of which he was governor, 
without permitting the discharge of a gun. About 2,000 
men in all became prisoners of war. During the firing 
seven Americans were killed and several wounded. Gen- 
eral Hull was afterward convicted of cowardice by a court 
martial and condemned to death, but was pardoned by 
president Madison. 



THE WAR OF 1812. 149 

Constitution-Guerriere — [August 19, 1812] — In 1797 
the Constitution, the first of thirteen frigates authorized 
by Congress in 1794 was launched at Boston. This 
famous fighter, later known as "Old Ironsides," mounted 
forty-four guns and carried 468 men. 

July 17, 1812, she encountered Commodore Broke's 
fleet of five British frigates off the northeast coast of 
America, but through the masterly seamanship of Cap- 
tain Isaac Hull eluded capture. August 19, 1812, off the 
coast of Massachusetts, in latitude 41° 22' north, longitude 
55° 48' west, she was attacked by the British frigate Guer- 
riere, Captain Dacres, carrying thirty-eight guns and 253 
men. After a half hour's fighting the Guerriere was a 
wreck and 39 of her men had been killed and 61 wounded. 
The casualties on the Constitution were 7 killed and 7 
wounded. The Guerriere was set afire and blown up next 
day and Congress voted its thanks and $50,000 in lieu of 
prize money. 

Fort Harrison, Attack on— [Sept. 4, 1812] — Fort Harri- 
son, on the Wabash River, in Indiana, was one of the most 
exposed frontier outposts. Sept. 4, 1812, it was attacked 
by the Indians. The post was held by a garrison of about 
fifty, under Captain Zachary Taylor. The savages set 
fire to the blockhouse and made a fierce assault. Nearly 
all the soldiers were sick with fever or convalescing. The 
Indians were kept at bay, however, until the arrival of re- 
inforcements from Vincennes. The loss to the garrison 
was 3 men killed and 3 wounded. 

Fort Madison, Defense of— [Sept. 4, 1812]— About 200 
Winnebago Indians attacked Fort Madison, on the Mis- 
sissippi River, a few miles above St. Louis, Sept. 4, 1812. 
The garrison consisted of a small detachment of the First 
regiment regular light infantry under Lieutenants Ham- 
ilton and Vasques. The attack was begun by the killing 



150 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

and scalping of a soldier just outside the fort. This was 
the only loss to the besieged, although the Indians main- 
tained the fight for three days, when, finding their efforts 
useless, they retired on the 8th. 

Gananoqui Village — [Sept. 20, 1812] — Learning that 
the British had stored a lot of provisions and ammuni- 
tion at the village of Gananoqui, Canada, opposite the 
upper group of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence 
River, Captain Benjamin Forsyth made a bold dash for 
them. He organized a body of 70 riflemen and 34 militia 
at Sackett's Harbor in September, 1812. Threading their 
way through the Thousand Islands, they landed 95 strong 
near the village on the night of Sept. 20. 

They were opposed by 60 British regulars and 50 Can- 
adian militia, drawn up in line of battle. When within 
100 yards of the line Forsyth's men fired and the British 
fled. They made a stand in the village, but were again 
defeated and driven off, leaving 10 dead upon the field. 
Several were wounded and 12 were taken prisoners. 
Forsyth lost 1 man killed and 1 man wounded. The stores 
taken consisted of sixty stand of arms, two barrels of 
fixed ammunition, comprising 3,000 ball cartridges, one 
barrel of gun powder, one of flints and forty-one muskets. 
The storehouse and 150 barrels of provisions were burned. 

Queenston Heights— [Oct. 13, 1812]— Early in Octo- 
ber, 1812 General Van Rensselaer resolved to invade Can- 
ada from Western New York. His headquarters were at 
Lewistown, opposite Queenston, Canada. His forces con- 
sisted of 3,650 regulars and 2,650 militia. The British 
force on the western bank of the Niagara River numbered 
about 1,500 including about 250 Indians under John 
Brant. Major General Brock, who had taken Detroit in 
August had returned to the east and established his head- 
quarters at Fort George. He posted batteries at every mile 



THE WAR OF 1812. 151 

along the river from there to Queenston. On the morning 
of October 13, 1812, the invasion was begun. The advance 
was premature, insufficient boats had been provided for 
transportation and reinforcements came so slowly that the 
advance guard were forced to surrender. General Brock 
was mortally wounded. Van Rensselaer was disabled 
and the American command fell upon Captain Wool, 
who raised the flag in Queenston Heights. The British 
reinforcements and Indians pressing hard upon the Ameri- 
cans, they were forced to surrender after a day's fighting. 
About 900 Americans were taken prisoners, 90 killed 
and about 100 wounded. The British lost in killed, 
wounded and captured, about 130. The number of In- 
dians killed is not known. A second invasion of Canada 
was planned by General Smyth, who succeeded Van 
Rensselaer in command of the Americans along the Ni- 
agara River. Nov. 28 this Quixotic commander made an 
attempt to land his army of 4,500, consisting of regulars 
and Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York militia, on 
Canadian soil. The attempt failed and the militia were 
sent to their homes and the regulars to winter quarters. 
Wasp-Frolic— [Oct. 18, 1812]— In 1806 the Ameri- 
cans built at Washington, the Wasp, a sloop of war 
mounting 18 guns. Oct. 13, 1812, the Wasp left the Dele- 
ware for the West Indies with 137 men under command of 
Captain Jacob Jones. On the 18th, off the southern coast 
of the United States, she fell in with six merchantmen 
under convoy of the British brig Frolic, 18 guns and 110 
men, Capt. Whinyates. The Wasp attacked and in less 
than an hour the Frolic struck her colors, after the loss of 
90 men. The fight was in a heavy sea. Within two hours 
the Wasp and its prize were captured by the British 
frigate Poictiers, 74 guns, and the Americans were sent 
captive to Bermuda. 



152 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

St. Regis, Capture of— [Oct. 22, 1812]— At the breaking 
out of the War of 1812, it was agreed between the British 
and the Americans that the village of St. Regis, on the 
boundary line between Canada and New York, occupied 
by Christian Indians, should remain neutral. In violation 
of this agreement the Canadian Commander in Chief 
placed a garrison in the place and many of the Indians 
were induced to join the British army. On the morning 
of Oct. 22, 1812, Major Young, with about 200 men, sur- 
prised the garrison and took 40 prisoners, thirty-eight 
muskets and 800 blankets, after killing seven men. None 
of the Americans was injured. 

United States-Macedonian— [Oct. 25, 1812]— In 1797, 
government launched at Philadelphia the second of the 
thirteen frigates authorized by Congress that year and 
christened her the United States. She mounted 44 guns. 
Oct. 25, 1812, with 478 men aboard, in command of Cap- 
tain Decatur, she met, off the island of Madeira, and after 
a two hours' fight, captured the British frigate Macedon- 
ian, 44 guns. Of the 320 men on the Macedonian 36 were 
killed and 68 wounded. The loss on the United States 
was 5 killed and 6 wounded. Congress and the people, 
cities and states united in the praise of Decatur. 

Fort Niagara, Bombardment of— [Nov. 21, 1812] — The 
British artillery in Fort George and at Newark on the 
Niagara River, opposite Fort Niagara, N. Y., fired 2,000 
red hot shot into the latter fort, Nov. 21, 1812. The can- 
nonading commenced at daybreak and continued until 
twilight. There were five detached batteries, two of them 
mounting 24-pounders, besides a number of mortars of 
from 5y 2 to lO 1 /^ inches calibre. The Americans, though 
short of ammunition, returned the fire, silencing one bat- 
tery. The British loss of life is not known. The Ameri- 
can loss was 2 killed and 5 wounded. 



THE WAR OF 1812. 153 

Mississiniwa— [Dec. 17, 18, 1812]— In November, 1812, 
a body of Miami and Delaware Indians were encamped, 
with hostile intent, on the Mississiniwa River, a tributary 
of the Wabash, fifteen or twenty miles from its junction 
with the latter stream. General Harrison, who had suc- 
ceeded Hull in the command of the army in the North- 
west, dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell with a regi- 
ment of Kentucky dragoons, a squad of United States 
volunteer dragoons, and a corps of infantry consisting of 
one company of the nineteenth regiment, the Pittsburg 
Blues and the Pennsylvania riflemen, with spies and 
guides, to destroy or disperse them. Campbell left Frank- 
linton, Harrison's headquarters, Nov. 25, and proceeded 
by way of Springfield, Xenia, Dayton, Eaton and Green- 
ville. Arriving at the Mississiniwa Dec. 17, he fell upon 
an Indian town, killed 8 warriors, captured 8 others and 
thirty-two women and children, and burned the houses. 

Just before dawn on the morning of Dec. 18, Campbell's 
Camp was attacked by a large body of Indians. A fierce 
battle raged for nearly an hour, when the Indians fled, 
leaving fifteen of their warriors dead on the field, and are 
supposed to have borne away as many more. Their ac- 
tual loss could not be ascertained. Campbell lost 8 
killed, 42 wounded and 107 horses. The spirit of the 
Indians was broken by this defeat. 

Constitution-Java — [Dec. 29, 1812] — After a hard- 
fought battle of two hours about thirty miles off the coast 
of Brazil, in latitude 13° 6' south, longitude 38° west, the 
British man-of-war Java, Captain Lambert, carrying 49 
guns and 446 men, on Dec. 29, 1812, surrendered to the 
Constitution, at that time under command of Commodore 
Bainbridge. The British loss was 60 killed and 101 wound- 
ed, while the American loss was only nine killed and 25 
wounded. 



154 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Frenchtown — [Jan. 18, 1813] — General Harrison, hav- 
ing succeeded Hull in command of the Army of the North- 
west, resolved to re-establish American supremacy and 
regain what Hull had lost. He dispatched General Win- 
chester with 2,000 men for Detroit, with orders to cross 
the river if opportunity offered and take Fort Maiden. 
Winchester advanced to Presque Isle, where he estab- 
lished a camp January 10, 1813. On the 17th he detailed 
Colonel Lewis with 660 men to advance to Frenchtown 
(now Monroe, Mich.), on the River Raisin. Lewis ar- 
rived on the 18th, and the British garrison, consisting of 
200 Canada militia and 400 Indians, were driven into the 
woods. The Americans lost 12 killed and 55 wounded. 
The loss to the enemy was not learned, though they left 
15 dead upon the open field, while their greatest loss 
occurred among the timber. 

River Raisin — [Jan. 22, 1813] — After Colonel Lewis 
had occupied Frenchtown, Mich., Jan. 18, 1813, with 650 
men, he was reinforced by General Winchester with about 
300 from the latter's camp on the Maumee River. These 
were stationed along the river outside the town. Be- 
fore daylight on the morning of Jan. 22, they were at- 
tacked by 500 British under Colonel Proctor and 600 In- 
dians under Round Head and Walk-in-the-Water. Some 
200 Americans were killed or wounded in battle or mas- 
sacred after their surrender, and Winchester, with 700 
men, was made prisoner. Only thirty-three of Winches- 
ter's detachment which arrived at Frenchtown are known 
to have escaped. The British lost 24 killed and 153 
wounded. 

Elizabeth — [Feb. 7, 1813] — British soldiers frequently 
crossed the border, and arrested deserters and persons 
they claimed were British subjects living in the United 
States, and imprisoned them in Canada. Early in 1813 



THE WAR OF 1812. 155 

it was learned that 16 such prisoners were held at Eliza- 
beth, now Brockville, on the north bank of the St. Law- 
rence River, eleven miles above Ogdensburg. Feb. 6, 
1813, Major Forsyth organized a party of about 200 men 
to set these persons at liberty. Crossing the river on the 
ice from Morristown, they proceeded to the jail and de- 
manded the keys. After liberating the political prisoners, 
leaving a murderer in his cell, they took 52 militiamen 
prisoners, 120 muskets, twenty rifles, two casks of fixed 
ammunition and other stores, and returned to Ogdens- 
burg without the loss of a man. 

Ogdensburg, Capture of — [Feb. 22, 1813] — In Septem- 
ber, 1812, General Brown was sent to Ogdensburg, N. Y., 
at the mouth of the Oswegatchie River, to garrison Fort 
Presentation, and attempt the capture of some British 
stores that were reported as on the way up the St. Law- 
rence River. Oct. 2, about forty British bateaux, escorted 
by a gunboat, were seen approaching. On the 4th two 
gunboats and twenty-five bateaux containing 750 men 
started for Ogdensburg. The American force amounted 
to about 1,200 effective men. After two hours of firing 
the invaders withdrew with the loss of three men killed 
and four wounded. No one was injured on the American 
side. Later Major Forsyth was placed in command of 
the garrison at Ogdensburg. With a party of citizens 
and militia he crossed over to Elizabethtown, Canada, 
Feb. 6, 1813, and rescued a number of prisoners held there. 
In retaliation for this exploit Lieutenant Colonel McDon- 
nell, with about 800 men, crossed the river on the ice 
Feb. 22, 1813, and, after a short engagement, gained pos- 
session of the town, which they gave over to plunderers. 
The American loss in the affair, besides the prisoners 
taken, was 5 killed and 15 wounded. The British lost 6 
killed and 48 wounded. 



156 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Hornet-Peacock— [Feb. 12, 1813]— Off the coast of 
British Guiana, near the mouth of the Demerara River, 
the American sloop-of-war Hornet, Captain Lawrence, 
carrying eighteen guns and 135 men, attacked the British 
brig Peacock, Captain Peake, eighteen guns and 136 men, 
on Feb. 12, 1813. After fifteen minutes of righting the 
Peacock was in a sinking condition and struck her colors. 
Before the wounded could be removed she went down, 
carrying with her nine British and three American sea- 
men. About 40 British were lost in the action and no 
Americans. 

Adaline-Lottery — [March 14, 1813]— Early in 1813 a 
British fleet entered the Chesapeake Bay and declared a 
blockade. March 13, three of the smaller British vessels 
appeared near the anchorage of a flotilla of United States 
gunboats. Commodore Arthur Sinclair hoisted sail on 
the schooner Adaline and gave chase. Pursuit was kept 
up during the night and after midnight the Adaline en- 
countered the Lottery, off Gwynn's Island. After three 
engagements the latter was sunk. 

York (Toronto), Capture of— [April 27, 1813]— The 
plans for the prosecution of the war with Great Britain 
in 1813 contemplated an invasion of Canada from both 
the east and west. General Harrison had successfully 
carried out the plans in the west, routed Proctor's army, 
and was in possession of the territory, when, on April 27, 
General Dearborn, with about 1,700 men, under the im- 
mediate command of General Zebulon Pike, crossed Lake 
Ontario on Commodore Chauncey's transports and 
marched upon the British garrison at York, now Toronto, 
where Major General Sheaffe was in command of 800 
regulars and a body of Indians. A sharp conflict ensued. 
The British and Indians were routed. By the explosion 
of a magazine General Pike was killed, together with 51 



THE WAR OF 1812. 157 

other Americans, and 40 British. One hundred and eighty- 
Americans were wounded by the explosion. The total 
casualties of the battle were 66 Americans killed and 208 
wounded on land, and 17 killed and wounded on the ves- 
sels. The British lost, besides the prisoners, 60 killed 
and 89 wounded. 

Fort Meigs, Bombardment of— [May 1, 1813] — In 
April, 1813, Colonel Proctor, with a force of 1,000 British 
regulars and Canada militia and 1,500 Indians, set out on 
an expedition against Fort Meigs, on the Maumee River, 
about twelve miles from its mouth. General Harrison 
was here encamped with about 1,100 effective men. 
May 1, the British having established batteries at Maumee 
City, opposite the Fort, opened fire, which they kept up 
for five days, without much injury to fort or garrison. 
During the bombardment one man was killed and another 
wounded in the fort. Meantime Harrison was reinforced 
by General Clay and 1,100 Kentuckians. Eight hundred 
of these under Colonel Dudley were detached with or- 
ders to attack the British rear. They advanced through 
the woods and spiked the guns without the loss of a man. 
Instead of returning to the river, as ordered, they pur- 
sued the flying foe into woods and fell into an Indian 
ambush, and of the 800 in Dudley's command, only 170 
escaped. After the fruitless bombardment the Indians 
deserted Proctor and he abandoned the Maumee. 

Fort George, Capture of— [May 27, 1813]— After the 
occupation of Toronto, April 27, 1813, the Americans 
turned their attention to the British forts along the Ni- 
agara River. On the west side of the river and near its 
mouth stood Fort George, which was held by about 1,800 
British regulars, 350 militia and 50 -Indians, under Briga- 
dier General Vincent, and Colonels Harvey and Myers. 
Nearly opposite Fort George was the American fort, Ni- 



158 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

agara, in and about which had been collected some 4,000 
troops under command of General Dearborn. Acting 
under him were Major General Morgan Lewis, Generals 
Boyd, Winder and Chandler and Colonel Scott. May 27, 
1813, an attack was made on Fort George. The army 
was transported to Canadian soil by the fleet under 
Commodore Chauncey and Captain Perry. After a se- 
vere battle of twenty minutes the British broke and fled 
in confusion toward Beaver Dams, eighteen miles dis- 
tant, to rendezvous. At the end of three hours Fort 
George and its dependencies, with the village of Newark, 
were in the hands of the Americans. Their loss was about 
40 killed and 100 wounded. The loss of the British regu- 
lars was 51 killed and 305 wounded, missing and prison- 
ers. The number of Canadian militia made prisoners was 
507, making the total British loss 863, as well as large 
quantities of ammunition and stores. 

Sackett's Harbor, Attack on— [May 29, 1813]— Sir 
George Prevost, Governor General of Canada, with a 
British force of 1,000 or 1,200 regulars and a large body 
of Indians, were conveyed from Kingston, Canada, May 
29, 1813, to Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., by the frigates 
Wolfe, Royal George and Earl of Moira, and the schoon- 
ers Prince Regent, Simcoe and Seneca, and about forty 
bateaux. Sir James commanded the squadron. The 
Americans, mostly raw militia, were at first driven back, 
but later rallied and the British were forced to retreat to 
their boats, leaving their dead upon the field. 

Chesapeake-Shannon — [June 1, 1813] — The only im- 
portant naval engagement of the War of 1812 won by 
the British. The encounter took place outside of Boston 
Harbor June 1, 1813. The Chesapeake, Captain James 
Lawrence, carried fifty guns and 300 men. The Shannon, 
Captain Philip V. Broke, mounted fifty-four guns and was 



THE WAR OF 1812. 159 

manned by 335 officers and men. Captain Lawrence fell 
mortally wounded, and notwithstanding his determina- 
tion not to yield, his ship fell a prey to the British. The 
American loss was 48 killed and 98 wounded. On board 
the Shannon 26 were killed and 58 wounded. 

Havre de Grace, Burning of — [May 3, 1813] — During 
the latter part of April, 1813, a part of the blockading 
fleet in the Chesapeake, under Admiral Cockburn, ascend- 
ed as far as Havre de Grace, in Herford county, Md., 
on the west bank of the Susquehanna River, near its 
mouth. At daybreak of May 3, the vessels opened a fire 
of rockets and shells on the town, and, with the aid of 
twenty barges, landed some 400 men, who, without serious 
opposition, burned and plundered the town. Other prop- 
erty in the vicinity was also destroyed. Only 3 or 4 men 
were lost on each side, though some of the citizens were 
taken aboard as prisoners. 

Stony Creek — [June 6, 1813] — When the British were 
driven from Fort George on the Niagara River, they fled 
westward under command of General Vincent, as far as 
Stony Creek, six miles southeast of the present city of 
Hamilton, and about fifty from the Niagara River. Here 
they made a stand, having been reinforced by troops from 
Kingston. They were closely followed by 1,300 Ameri- 
cans under Generals Chandler and Winder. At midnight, 
June 5, 1813, Vincent with about 800 men started for the 
American camp. The attack was made before daylight 
and the combatants were unable to distinguish friend 
from foe. Chandler and Winder were both captured and 
Vincent was lost in the woods. The British command 
then devolved upon Colonel Harvey, who, despairing of 
driving the Americans from their position, withdrew from 
the attack while it was yet dark. The Americans fled to 
Forty-mile Creek, where they were joined by 400 rein- 



160 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

forcements. The casualties of the battle were: Ameri- 
cans, 17 killed, 38 wounded and 99 missing. British, 23 
killed, 100 wounded and 55 missing. 

Asp, Defense of — [June 14, 1813] — Among the small 
vessels built to defend the streams tributary to the Chesa- 
peake was the Asp, commanded by Midshipman Sigour- 
ney, carrying three small guns and 21 men. June 14, 
1813, the Asp ran up the Yeocomico, pursued by three 
boats loaded with men from two of the British brigs. 
These were beaten off and an hour later five boats with 
60 men renewed the attack. Sigourney and 10 men were 
killed, and the other half the crew escaped. The British set 
fire to the Asp and returned to their brig. Midshipman 
McClintock of the Asp returned and extinguished the fire. 

Junon, Attack on — [June 20, 1813] — Captain Joseph 
Tarbell, of the Constellation, organized an attack on the 
frigate Junon, one of the Chesapeake squadron anchored 
in Hampton Roads. On the morning of Sunday, June 20, 
1813, a flotilla of gunboats in two divisions began to 
harass the frigate. Other frigates drove away the gun- 
boats after half an hour's fighting, with a loss to the 
Americans of 1 man killed and 2 wounded. 

Craney Island — [June 22, 1813] — On the morning of 
June 20, 1813, fourteen of the British vessels in the Chesa- 
peake ascended to the mouth of the James River. Captain 
Tarbell sent 100 seamen and 50 marines to reinforce the 
garrison of Craney Island, which numbered 587 under 
Lieutenant Beatty. Early on June 22 Admiral Cockburn 
began the landing of 2,500 men under Admiral Warren. 
Heavy fire from the Constellation and the batteries on the 
island frustrated the design. Three British were killed, 
15 wounded and 62 captured. No Americans were lost. 

Beaver Dams — [June 24, 1813] — After the retreat of 
the American army from the Niagara River they rendez- 




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THE WAR OF 1812. 161 

voused at Beaver Dams, now the village of Homer, three 
miles east of St. Catharines, Canada, near the western 
end of Lake Ontario. General Dearborn sent Lieutenant 
Colonel Boerstler with 570 men to capture this place. At 
Beaver Dam Creek, June 24, 1813, Boerstler was confront- 
ed by 40 or 50 men of the British 49th, whose command- 
er, Lieutenant Fitzgibbon, demanded his surrender, 
claiming to be the advance guard of 1,500 troops and 700 
Indians. Boerstler surrendered 542 prisoners, one 12- 
pounder, one 6-pounder and a stand of colors to Fitz- 
gibbon. 

Hampton, Va. — [June 25, 1813] — Failing to make a 
landing at Craney Island, Admirals Cockburn and War- 
ren succeeded at Hampton, Va., on the west bank of the 
river about a mile above its entrance to Hampton Roads. 
On the night of June 24, 1813, 2,500 men were landed two 
miles west of the village. The place was defended by 
Major Crutchfield with 436 Virginia militia. These were 
overpowered with a loss of 7 killed, 12 wounded, one 
prisoner and 11 missing, and the village given over to pil- 
lage and rapine. The British reported a loss of 5 killed, 
33 wounded and 10 missing. 

Fort George, Massacre Near — [July 8, 1813] — A party 
of 40 Americans under Lieutenant Eldridge, in attempt- 
ing to drive off a small detachment of British and Indians 
who had approached to within a couple of miles of Fort 
George, on the Niagara River, were ambushed by Indians 
under Blackbird July 8, 1813, and only five of the party 
escaped. The wounded and prisoners were massacred 
with all the cruelty the savage minds could suggest. 

Black Rock— [July 11, 1813; August 3, 1814]— Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Bishopp, with about 400 men from the 
British camp at Lundy's Lane, crossed the Niagara River, 
July 11, 1813, and attacked the blockhouse at Black Rock, 



162 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

where the Americans had a considerable quantity of naval 
stores and ammunition. The blockhouse was in charge 
of General Peter B. Porter, with less than a dozen artil- 
lerists. About 300 militia and a small band of Indians 
were scattered about in the neighborhood of Buffalo and 
Black Rock. The militia fled at Bishopp's approach and 
General Porter narrowly escaped capture. On his way 
to Buffalo he met 100 regulars sent to reinforce him. 
With these and as many of the militiamen as he could 
rally, he returned and attacked the invaders. After a short 
struggle the British were driven toward their boats, leav- 
ing 9 killed and 16 or 18 prisoners. Lieutenant Bishopp 
was mortally wounded. 

Fort Stephenson, Attack on — [August 1, 1813] — In 
July, 1813, Major Croghan was sent with 160 men to 
garrison Fort Stephenson, or Lower Sandusky, now Fre- 
mont, Ohio, about twenty miles from Sandusky Bay. 
Here he was attacked August 1, 1813, by General Proctor 
with 400 British regulars and several hundred Indians, 
while Tecumseh, with 2,000 Indians, held the roads lead- 
ing to the fort, so as to cut off reinforcements. The firing 
was maintained all night from Proctor's gunboats and 
from howitzers landed by the British. August 2, a gen- 
eral assault was made, which the garrison repulsed with 
the loss of one man killed and 7 slightly wounded. The 
loss of the British in killed and wounded was 120. 

Enterprise-Boxer — [Sept. 4, 1813] — The American brig 
Enterprise, commanded by Lieutenant William Burrows, 
and mounting 14 guns, captured the British brig Boxer, 
Captain Samuel Blyth, 14 guns, off the coast of Maine, 
Sept. 4, 1813. Blyth was instantly killed at the opening 
of the engagement and Burrows was mortally wounded. 

Lake Erie— [Sept. 10, 1813]— During 1813 the Ameri- 
cans, under great difficulties, constructed a fleet of war 



THE WAR OF 1812. 163 

vessels at Presque Isle, now Erie, Pa., for service on the 
Great Lakes. The scene of the struggle being on both 
sides of the St. Lawrence River and the Lakes, gave a de- 
cided advantage to the army provided with transports 
and war vessels. In these the United States was deficient, 
particularly on the inland waters. The Americans, how- 
ever, proved themselves not to be deficient in energy and 
ingenuity in the use of such resources as were at hand. 
Hardy New England axemen, ship carpenters and sailing 
masters were sent to the shores of Lake Erie, and in 
of the engagement and Burrows was mortally wounded, 
green pines and hemlocks at the water's edge were trans- 
formed into a fleet of vessels destined to prove the fallacy 
of Britannia's proud claim — ruler of the sea. Six vessels 
were built, suitable for mounting guns and carrying troops. 
These, with the Caledonia, which had been captured al- 
most a wreck from the enemy and repaired, together with 
three other small lake vessels, formed the fleet, which on 
August 12, 1813, was ready for sea. They were the Law- 
rence, flagship, twenty guns; Niagara, Captain Elliot, 
twenty guns; Ariel, Lieutenant Packett, four guns; 
Scorpion, Sailing Master Champlin, two guns; Somers, 
Sailing Master Almy, two guns; Porcupine, Midshipman 
Smith, one gun; Tigress, Lieutenant Conklin, one gun; 
Tripp, Lieutenant Stevens, one gun ; Caledonia, Lieutenant 
Turner, three guns, and the Ohio, one gun. The Ohio 
was sent away on other service before the battle and did 
not take part in the engagement. The total armament of 
the fleet was 54 guns, manned by less than 400 officers 
and men under Commodore Oliver H. Perry. With this 
rude squadron, manned by undisciplined but determined 
and patriotic soldiers and marines, Commodore Oliver H. 
Perry set forth in search of Barclay's British fleet of six 
vessels manned by more than 500 well-drilled men. Sept. 9 



164 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Perry anchored at Put-In Bay, on the southwest shore of 
Lake Erie, and the next morning, Sept. 10, 1813, the 
enemy was sighted up the lake to the northwest. The 
British fleet consisted of six vessels — the Detroit, flag- 
ship, Commodore Barclay, nineteen guns; Queen Char- 
lotte, Captain Finnis, seventeen guns; Hunter, ten guns; 
sloop Little Belt, three guns; schooner Lady Prevost, 
thirteen guns; and the Chippewa, one gun and two swiv- 
els. At 10 o'clock in the morning the signal for action 
was run up to the masthead of the Lawrence. It bore 
the words of the dying Captain Lawrence of the Chesa- 
peake: "Don't Give Up the Ship." During the action the 
Lawrence was disabled and Perry transferred his flag to 
the Niagara. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the British 
flagship struck her colors and the firing ceased. This 
was the first meeting of a British and an American fleet 
in regular line of battle. The engagement was fairly 
fought, with the Americans at a disadvantage, and the 
British fleet surrendered. Perry sent word to General 
Harrison: "We have met the enemy and they are ours." 
The British loss in the action was 135, of whom 41 were 
killed; the Americans lost 123, of whom 27 were killed. 

After the victory of Lake Erie, Perry transported Gen- 
eral Harrison's army over the lake, where Proctor's army 
was defeated at the Battle of the Thames. 

Thames — [Oct. 5, 1813] — After Perry's victory over 
the British fleet on Lake Erie, General Harrison com- 
pleted his preparations for the invasion of Canada. 
Sept. 21, 1813, the embarkation of the army on Perry's 
transports began. On the afternoon of the 27th the Army 
of the Northwest, consisting of 5,000 men, under the im- 
mediate command of General Harrison and General Shel- 
by, governor of Kentucky, landed at Amherstburg (Mai- 
den), but found that Proctor's army, about 800 regulars 



THE WAR OF 1812. 165 

and 1,200 Indians, had fled inland. Harrison started in 
hot pursuit. 

In response to the repeated demands of Tecumseh, the 
British made a stand about eight miles north of the River 
Thames. Here they were attacked on Oct. 5 by about 
3,000 Americans. A short but decisive battle took place 
in which the British and Indians were completely routed 
and Chief Tecumseh was killed. The exact number of 
casualties in this battle was not ascertained. The Ameri- 
can loss was probably about 15 killed and twice that num- 
ber wounded. The British lost about 18 killed, 26 wound- 
ed and 600 taken prisoners, of whom 25 were officers. 
Proctor made his escape. Thirty-three dead Indians 
were found upon the field after the battle. 

Chrysler's Farm — [Nov. 11, 1813] — During the sum- 
mer of 1813 General Dearborn was succeeded in the com- 
mand of the army at the north by General Wilkinson. 
General Wade Hampton, who had been stationed at Nor- 
folk, was also attached to the northern army. Late in 
August it was decided to form an expedition and proceed 
against Montreal. The American forces were largely 
withdrawn from the Niagara River posts and concentrated 
on Grenadier Island in the Niagara River, about eighteen 
miles from Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., and at French Creek, 
twenty miles further down the river, while those about 
Lake Champlain were to proceed to the mouth of the 
Chateaugay River to await the arrival of Wilkinson's army 
from above. 

Oct. 5, 1813, the whole flotilla, comprising nearly 300 
boats, moved down the river from the mouth of French 
Creek, while the cavalry, 500 strong, marched along the 
bank. General Brown led the advance of the army of in- 
vasion. Before the expedition reached the Longue Saut, 
a perilous rapids of the St. Lawrence, eight miles in ex- 



166 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

tent, beginning twenty miles below Ogdensburg, most of 
the army had been disembarked, the cavalry had crossed 
to the Canadian side, and, with 1,500 men under General 
Boyd, accompanied by Generals Swartwout and Coving- 
ton, moved forward in three columns. British armed ves- 
sels were following Wilkinson's flotilla, a heavy land force 
was harrassing his troops on flank and rear. News also 
reached Wilkinson that the enemy were occupying posts 
on the river below to await his arrival. Nov. 11, 1813, 
Colonel Ripley, with the Twenty-first Regiment, drove the 
British sharpshooters from the woods to an open field 
on Chrysler's farm. Repeated charges drove the British 
back almost a mile. After a fight of five hours the Ameri- 
can ammunition was exhausted and they were compelled 
to retreat toward their boats, leaving the British in pos- 
session of the field. The next morning the flotilla safely 
shot the Longue Saut, and rejoined Brown three miles 
above Cornwall. 

Buffalo, Destruction of— [Dec. 29, 1813]— During the 
winter of 1813 the British regained possession of Fort 
George on the Niagara River, and had no difficulty in 
driving the Americans from Fort Niagara. The British 
and Indians, under the command of Lieutenant General 
Drummond, Major General Riall and Colonel Murray, 
overran and laid waste the valley of the Niagara and 
pressed hard upon Buffalo. General Amos Hall arrived 
at Buffalo Dec. 26, and succeeded General McClure in 
the command of 2,000 disorganized American troops. 

On the night of Dec. 29, Riall crossed the river at Black 
Rock, with 1,000 regulars, Canadians and Indians. At 
sight of the enemy 800 of Hall's troops deserted. He, 
however, made a gallant defense with the Chautauqua 
troops and Canadian refugees, until, vastly outnumbered 
and almost surrounded, he was forced to retreat, keeping 



THE WAR OF 1812. 167 

the enemy in check and covering the flight of the citizens. 
The British and Indians took possession of Buffalo and 
proceeded to burn, plunder and massacre. Only four 
buildings were left standing in the town. Only one build- 
ing was left standing at Black Rock. 

Longwoods — [March 3, 1814] — After Harrison's victory 
on the Thames nothing of importance occured in that re- 
gion until March 3, 1814, when an expedition consisting 
of 160 men, with artillery, under Captain Holmes, was sent 
out by Lieutenent Colonel Butler, then in temporary com- 
mand at Detroit, to attempt the capture of Fort Talbot, 
a British outpost 100 miles from Detroit, down Lake 
Erie. At a place called Longwoods, in Canada, Holmes 
encountered the enemy. Darkness ensued after an hour's 
fighting. The Americans lost 7 men killed and wounded, 
while the British loss, including Indians, was far greater. 

La Colle Mills— [March 30, 1814]— On the morning of 
Sept. 20, 1813, Colonel Zebulon M. Pike, with about 600 
men, crossed the La Colle River, a tributary of the Sorel, 
in Quebec, and occupied a blockhouse from which the 
guard of Canadians and Indians had fled the night be- 
fore. A body of New York militia which had been sent 
by another road attacked Pike's men in the blockhouse, 
supposing them to be enemies. After a contest of nearly 
half an hour, Lieutenant Colonel Salaberry, with a con- 
siderable force of British regulars, militia and Indians, 
appeared on the scene and the Americans fled, leaving 5 
dead and 5 wounded on the field. 

March 30, 1814, General Wilkinson with about 4,000 
men crossed the Canada, border for the purpose of march- 
ing against Montreal and also to capture a British force 
of 2,500 men which was said to be approaching. The 
blockhouse and a stone mill on the La Colle were gar- 
risoned by about 200 British regulars. They were rein- 



168 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

forced during the attack by some 800 men and after a 
contest of nearly two hours, Wilkinson withdrew, having 
lost 13 killed, 128 wounded and 13 missing. The British 
loss was 11 killed, 46 wounded, and 4 missing. 

Oswego, Captured by British — [May 5, 1814] — On the 
5th of May, 1814, the British squadron under Sir James 
Yeo, consisting of eight vessels ranging from twelve to 
sixty-two guns, aggregating 222 pieces of ordnance, be- 
sides several gunboats and other small craft, moved 
toward Oswego, N. Y., at the mouth of the Oswego River. 
The squadron carried more than 1,200 land troops under 
Lieutenant Colonel Drummond. Oswego was protected 
by old Fort Ontario, mounting six old guns, and a gar- 
rison of less than 300 men, under Lieutenant Mitchell. 
These repulsed a landing party sent ashore and the fleet 
put to sea, but returned the next day, May 6, and landed 
the greater portion of the force and ascended a long, steep 
hill to the fort in the face of a heavy fire from the Ameri- 
cans. Overwhelming numbers finally compelled Mitchell 
to fall back. During this action the American loss was 
6 killed, including Lieutenant Blaney, 38 wounded and 
25 missing. The British lost 19 killed and 75 wounded, 
among the latter being Captain Mulcaster of the Princess 
Charlotte, and Captain Popham of the Montreal. 

Sandy Creek— [May 30, 1814]— May 19, 1814, the 
British squadron on Lake Ontario blockaded Sackett's 
Harbor, where Commodore Chauncey was fitting out a 
squadron for active service. Certain heavy guns and 
cables destined for some of the ships were yet at Oswego 
Falls. The blockade prevented their being conveyed by 
water to the harbor, and Captain Woolsey, commander 
of the Oneida, volunteered to transport them by way of 
the Big Sandy creek, partly overland, to their destina- 
tion. Sir James Yeo, of the blockading squadron, heard 



THE WAR OF 1812. 169 

of the expedition and sent two gunboats, three cutters 
and a gig to intercept Woolsey. The latter had detailed 
130 riflemen and the same number of Oneida Indians to 
proceed along the banks of the creek to resist any pos- 
sible attack. May 30, the gunboats sighted Woolsey's 
flotilla and began firing. The response of the Americans 
surprised them, and within ten minutes the British squad- 
ron with officers and men to the number of 170 were 
prisoners and prizes. Not a single American life was lost. 
The British loss was 18 killed and 50 wounded. The 
cannon and cables were safely landed at Sackett's Harbor. 

Wasp-Reindeer— [June 28, 1814]— In 1814 the United 
States built a new vessel at Newburyport, Mass., and 
christened it the Wasp, in honor of the sloop of that name. 
It was a ship-rigged sloop-of-war and carried 22 guns and 
160 men. Leaving Portsmouth May 1, 1814, under Cap- 
tain Johnston Blakely, she ran into the English Channel 
to look for British merchantmen. June 28 she encountered 
the British sloop Reindeer, eighteen guns and 118 men. 
In less than half an hour of fierce fighting the Reindeer 
struck her colors, having sustained a loss of 25 killed and 
42 wounded. The American loss was 27 in all. 

Sept. 1, 1814, after a fight of about two hours, the Wasp 
captured the British brig Avon, eighteen guns. 

Oct. 9, 1814, in latitude 18° 35' north, longitude 30° 10' 
west, she spoke and boarded the Swedish brig Adams and 
took off Lieutenant McKnight and a master's mate of 
the United States ship Essex on their way from Brazil to 
England. The Wasp was never heard from again. 

Fort Erie— [July 3, 1814]— On June 1, 1814, Major 
General Brown established headquarters at Buffalo with 
the intention of re-taking the lower peninsula of Canada. 
His army consisted of two brigades of infantry, command- 
ed by Generals Scott and Ripley respectively. To each 



170 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

was added a train of artillery and a squad of cavalry. 
There was also a brigade of 1,100 New York and Penn- 
sylvania volunteers and 500 Indians. July 3, the Ameri- 
can army crossed the Niagara and demanded the sur- 
render of Fort Erie, the first British post on the Canada 
side. Major Buck, with the garrison of 170 men, yielded 
without a struggle. Before the demand for surrender 
was made the British fired from the fort, killing 4 Ameri- 
cans and wounding 2. One British picket was killed. 

Chippewa — [July 5, 1814] — On the morning of the 4th 
of July, 1814, the entire American Army of the North, 
under General Brown, advanced northward along the 
western banks of the Niagara River to a point near the 
mouth of the Chippewa River. Here they were confront- 
ed by the British army under General Riall, who was re- 
inforced during the night by the King's regiment from 
Toronto. On the afternoon and evening of the 5th a 
stubborn battle was fought. The British were defeated 
with a loss of 236 killed, 322 wounded and 46 missing. 
The American loss during the day was 61 killed, 255 
wounded and 19 missing. General Winfield Scott distin- 
guished himself for bravery and efficiency in this battle. 
General Riall was wounded and taken prisoner. 

Eastport, Me., Surrendered — [July 11, 1814] — Early in 
July, 1814, Sir Thomas M. Hardy sailed from Halifax 
with a squadron consisting of the Ramillies, seventy-four 
guns; the sloop Martin, brig Borer, the Bream, the bomb- 
ship Terror and several transports carrying troops under 
Colonel Thomas Pilkington. The squadron entered Passa- 
maquoddy Bay July 11, 1814, and anchored at Fort Sul- 
livan at Eastport, which was in command of Major Per- 
ley Putnam, with 50 men and six pieces of artillery. Put- 
nam was forced to surrender, and Eastport and all the 
country surrounding Passamaquoddy Bay was declared 



THE WAR OF 1812. 171 

to be under British rule. The people were made to take 
the oath of allegiance to Great Britain. A British officer 
was placed in control of the custom house and 800 troops 
were stationed in the town. 

Lundy's Lane — [July 25, 1814] — After the defeat at 
Chippewa, General Riall retired by way of Queenston 
toward the head of Lake Ontario. He was soon rein- 
forced and returned to attack the Americans under Brown, 
who had pursued him as far as Queenston. Hearing of 
the British reinforcements, Brown retreated to the Chip- 
pewa River and on July 24, 1814, encamped on the south 
bank, where he had defeated Riall on the 5th. On the 25th 
General Scott, with about 1,200 men, went forward to re- 
connoitre and came upon the British army 4,500 strong 
near the Niagara Falls at Bridgewater Mills, on Lundy's 
Lane, a road leading from the falls to the northeast end 
of Lake Ontario. Soon the entire American force was 
engaged in the fight, which lasted from sunset till mid- 
night. The American forces numbered less than 2,600 
men. During the engagement General Scott and Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Miller distinguished themselves for dar- 
ing and efficiency. The British were finally driven back, 
and forced to abandon their artillery, ammunition and 
Da gg a g e - Both armies claimed the victory, though both 
left the field. The American loss was 171 killed, 571 
wounded and 110 missing, a total of 852 out of an army 
of 2,500. The British lost 84 killed, 559 wounded, 193 
missing and 42 prisoners, a total of 878 out of an army of 
4,500. Generals Scott and Brown were wounded. 

Black Rock— [August 3, 1814]— In August, 1814, Black 
Rock was again attacked by the British and successfully 
defended by the Americans. After the battle of Lundy's 
Lane the American army retired to Fort Erie and vicinity. 
General Drummond, having received reinforcements, went 



172 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

in pursuit. As a preliminary step toward attacking Fort 
Erie the British general resolved to take possession of 
Black Rock. About 1,200 men, under Lieutenant Colonel 
Tucker, crossed the river on Aug. 3, 1814, and were met 
and driven back by 300 Americans under Lieutenants 
Ryan, Smith and Armstrong. The British lost a consid- 
erable number, of which no record was given. The Ameri- 
can loss was 2 men killed, and 3 officers and 5 privates 
wounded. 

Stonington — [August 9, 1814] — Having brought the ex- 
treme Xew England coast under British dominion, Com- 
modore Hardy, with his squadron of four gunboats, ap- 
peared before Stonington, Conn., Aug. 9, 1814, and de- 
manded its surrender. The only defence the place had 
was a small company of local militia. Under direction 
of Lieutenant Hough these mounted four small cannon, 
two on the extreme point of the peninsula upon which 
Stonington is situated, and the others on the southwest 
point. The bombardment began at eight o'clock in the 
evening and continued till midnight, but did little dam- 
age. The shots from the primitive shore batteries did 
good service, and perhaps prevented a landing. On the 
morning of the 10th the bombardment was resumed. 
Militia came in from the surrounding country, and Cap- 
tain Jeremiah Holmes of Mystic, an experienced gunner, 
took command of the battery on the point. General 
Isham assumed command of the militia, who had now ar- 
rived in sufficient numbers to prevent a landing. The 
frigates continued to throw shells on the 11th and 12th, 
when they withdrew to Fisher's Island. Xo one was killed 
during the action, but half a dozen were wounded. 

Argus-Pelican — [August 14. 1814] — In 1814 Captain 
W. H. Allen ventured into the British channel in the 
sloop-of-war Argus, twenty-two guns, in quest of mer- 



THE WAR OF 1812. 173 

chantmen. Aug. 14 of that year he attacked and de- 
feated the British sloop-of-war Pelican, Captain J. F. 
Maples, twenty-one guns. The loss to the Americans was 
23, British 7. Captain Allen later died from wounds re- 
ceived in this engagement and was buried at Plymouth, 
England, with military honors. 

Fort Erie, Siege and Destruction — [August 3-Sept 17, 
1814] — August 5, 1814, General Gaines arrived at Fort 
Erie to take command of the American army of 2,500 
which had retired to the southward after the battle of 
Lundy's Lane. The fort was already invested by Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Drummond with 5,000 men. The latter sub- 
jected the fort to a heavy bombardment all day August 14, 
and on the morning of the 15th, between midnight and 
dawn, made a series of desperate assaults, showing no 
quarter to Americans who fell into his power. The Brit- 
ish were driven off, leaving on the field 221 killed, 174 
wounded and 186 prisoners. The American loss was 17 
killed, 56 wounded and 11 missing. 

After this repulse the British kept up a constant bom- 
bardment of the fort for several weeks. General Gaines 
was seriously injured and General Brown resumed com- 
mand, though in ill health and suffering from wounds re- 
ceived at Lundy's Lane. 

Sept. 17, 1814, a sortie was made by about 1,000 regu- 
lars and the same number of militia upon the British out- 
posts, and- all their batteries were captured or destroyed, 
thus saving Buffalo and perhaps all of Western New York, 
and seriously crippling the enemy. The loss to the British 
during the sortie was 500 killed, wounded and missing, 
and 385 taken prisoners. The American loss was 79 killed, 
216 wounded and an equal number missing. After this 
disaster Drummond retired precipitately and the Ameri- 
cans abandoned and destroyed Fort Erie. 



174 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Bladensburg — [August 24, 1814] — As early as January, 
1814, intelligence was received at Washington that 4,000 
British troops had landed at Bermuda destined for the 
United States. The British Admiral Cockburn arrived 
at Lynnhaven Bay in March, with a ship, two frigates 
and a brig. Early in August he was joined by Vice- 
Admiral Cochrane, who took command and was later 
joined in the Chesapeake by 4,000 veterans of Welling- 
ton's army under General Ross. 

The civil government at Washington was strangely 
apathetic in the face of impending danger. Washington, 
with its public buildings and records, was entirely un- 
protected. At the suggestion of General Winder the Presi- 
dent called a cabinet council in July and proposed rais- 
ing an army for the defense of the national capital. This 
comprehended a requisition on the states for militia ag- 
gregating 93,000 men. The naval defenses were entrusted 
to Commodore Barney with a small flotilla of gunboats 
carrying 400 men. By August 1, General Winder, who 
was assigned to the defense of the capital, had 1,000 regu- 
lars and almost 4,000 militia under his command for the 
defense of Washington and Baltimore. The remainder 
of the army was on paper. 

The British moved up the Patuxent by land and water 
to Upper Marlborough, driving Barney's flotilla before 
them to Pig Point, where the latter destroyed it and 
crossed toward the eastern branch of the Potomac to 
form a junction with Winder's advance, which had pro- 
ceeded to Bladensburg, about five miles from Wshing- 
ton, on the post road to Baltimore. 

Here at noon, August 24, 1814, the two armies faced 
each other — the British invaders near 5,000 strong, 4,000 
of them seasoned by service in continental Europe, while 
the defenders of the Capital consisted of about 2,500 un- 



THE WAR OF 1812. 175 

disciplined, untried militia, many of them only three days 
from their homes, surrounded and influenced by a crowd 
of injudicious civilian advisers. The battle lasted from 
about half-past twelve till four o'clock, and resulted in 
the utter rout of the Americans. The British lost upward 
of 500 men in the engagement, while the Americans had 
only 26 killed and 51 wounded. After this battle the in- 
vaders marched on to the Capital and burned the public 
buildings. 

Washington Burned — [August 24, 1814] — After the 
flight of the Americans from the field of Bladensburg, 
August 24, 1814, the British army advanced to the plain 
between the present Congressional Cemetery and the 
Capitol. Cockrane and Ross with 200 men rode into the 
city in the evening to destroy the public buildings and war 
stores. The unfinished Capitol, containing the Library of 
Congress, was fired. The President's house, the Treas- 
ury Building, the Arsenal and barracks for 3,000 men, were 
next fired. In a few hours nothing but the blackened 
walls remained of the public buildings, save the Patent 
Office, which was spared. Only such private property as 
was owned or occupied by offenders was destroyed. The 
President and his chief advisers fled to different points in 
Virginia and Maryland. Mrs. Madison, the wife of the 
President, when apprised of the defeat at Bladensburg, 
sent away the silver plate and other valuables from the 
President's house and, at great personal risk, saved from 
destruction the full-length portrait of General Washing- 
ton by Gilbert Stuart, which now adorns the Blue Room 
of the White House. She also saved the parchment on 
which was written the Declaration of Independence and 
the autographs of the signers. With her sister and broth- 
er-in-law, she was then conveyed to a place of safety be- 
yond the Potomac. Commodore Tingey, in command at 



176 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the Navy Yard, burned the property under his control to 
prevent it falling into the hands of the British. The 
bridge over the Potomac was also burned. 

The total value of property destroyed by British and 
Americans in Washington was estimated at $2,000,000. 
On the night of the 25th Ross and Cochrane withdrew 
from Washington. 

Penobscot Towns— [Sept. 1, 3, 12, 1814]— Hardy's easy 
conquest of Eastport encouraged Lieutenant General Sir 
John C. Sherbrooke, Governor of Nova Scotia, to fit out 
an expedition to subjugate other points on the north- 
eastern coast. A fleet consisting of eighteen vessels sailed 
from Halifax August 29, 1814, under command of Ad- 
miral Griffith. Ten of the vessels were transports and 
carried nearly 4,000 troops, under Major General Gos- 
selin. Entering the mouth of the Penobscot River, they 
arrived in the harbor of Castine Sept. 1. Lieutenant 
Lewis, with about 40 regulars, occupied a small redoubt 
mounting four 24-pounders and two fieldpieces. Seeing 
resistance was useless, Lewis fired a shot, spiked his guns 
and fled. About 600 troops were landed. Sherbrooke 
issued a proclamation, declaring all the country between 
the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy Bay British territory, 
and offered the inhabitants protection upon acquiescence. 

An expedition was detached to take possession of 
Hampton, farther up the river. Here they were opposed 
on the morning of Sept. 3 by General John Blake with 
about 600 green militia, hastily summoned, and Lieuten- 
ant Lewis, with his 40 regulars. The militia fled on the 
approach of the British, and the officers and regulars were 
compelled to retreat. 

A small force of the invaders was sent to Bangor, which 
was occupied without resistance. This town as well as 
Hampton was plundered and the inhabitants ill-treated 




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w 



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THE WAR OF 1812. 177 

and compelled to sign paroles as prisoners. Sept. 12, after 
taking Machias, the expedition returned to Halifax. 

Plattsburg— [Sept. 6, 1814]— The overthrow of Na- 
poleon at the end of March, 1814, by the allied powers, 
released many British soldiers from service in Europe, 
and several thousand of them were sent to reinforce the 
little army in Canada, and by the 1st of August Governor 
General Prevost had 15,000 troops under his command at 
Quebec, most of them hardened veterans from the Pen- 
insula. One brigade was sent west, and the remainder 
were held for a contemplated invasion of New York. 
Wilkinson and Hampton had been retired from the Ameri- 
can army and General George Izard was placed in com- 
mand of the right wing of the Army of the North, May 4, 
1814, with headquarters at Plattsburg, N. Y., near the 
head of Lake Champlain. Notwithstanding it was evi- 
dent that the British contemplated a descent upon New 
York by way of Lake Champlain and the Hudson, Izard 
was detached from his command and sent, with 4,000 
men, to the Niagara frontier, leaving General Macomb 
in command with about 3,500 men. On Sept. 6, 1814, the 
British army, fully 14,000 strong, already upon American 
soil, marched toward Plattsburg. Major Wool, with a 
body of about 300 regulars met the invading army at 
Beekmantown, about four miles north of Plattsburg, and 
subjected it to a harassing fire all the way to the Saranac 
River. Wool's retreating army crossed the stream to 
South Plattsburg and destroyed the bridge. Though in 
overwhelming force the British army was checked, with 
a loss in killed and wounded more than 200 men. The 
American loss was 45. From the 7th to the 11th Pre- 
vost's army rested preparatory to acting in conjunction 
with the fleet on Lake Champlain. During that engage- 
ment an effort was made to cross the Saranac and dis- 



178 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

lodge the Americans. Sir George Prevost withdrew from 
the contest and retreated into Canada. 

Lake Champlain — [Sept. 11, 1814] — After arriving at 
the head of Lake Champlain, Sept. 6, Governor General 
Prevost awaited the co-operation of the British fleet on 
the lake. Sept. 11, 1814, Captain Downie's squadron, 
consisting of the frigate Confiance, thirty-eight guns; brig 
Linnet, sixteen guns ; sloops Chubb and Finch, each eleven 
guns; twelve gunboats, eight carrying two guns and four 
carrying one gun each, and manned by 45 men each — in 
all sixteen vessels, of about 2,402 tons, with 937 men and 
a total of ninety-two guns, throwing a broadside of 1,192 
pounds, rounded Cumberland Head. In Cumberland or 
Plattsburg Bay, awaiting the attack, lay the American 
squadron under Captain Thomas Macdonough, then only 
twenty-eight years of age. It consisted of the ship Sara- 
toga, twenty-six guns; brig Eagle, twenty-six guns; 
schooner Ticonderoga, seventeen guns; sloop Preble, 
seven guns ; ten gunboats, or galleys, six of them mount- 
ing one long 24-pounder and one 18-pounder each, the 
other four carrying each a 12-pounder — in all fourteen 
vessels, of 2,244 tons and 882 men, with eighty-six guns, 
throwing a broadside of 1,194 pounds of metal. Kneeling 
down beside his biggest gun, surrounded by his men, the 
young Captain invoked divine protection and guidance. 
The first shot from the Saratoga was aimed by Macdon- 
ough and went entirely through the flagship of the British 
squadron, demolishing her wheel. The battle raged two 
hours and twenty minutes, when every British vessel 
struck her colors. Both squadrons were badly crippled. 
The British lost more than 200, including Captain Downie. 
The American loss was 110, of whom 52 were killed. 

North Point — [Sept. 12, 1814] — After burning Wash- 
ington, General Ross withdrew to Admiral Cochrane's 



THE WAR OF 1812. 179 

fleet and the invaders ran up the Chesapeake Bay to the 
mouth of the Patapsco River. On the morning of Sept. 12, 
1814, the British forces 9,000 strong were landed at North 
Point, twelve miles from Baltimore, with provisions for 
three days and eighty rounds of ammunition per man. 
Baltimore was defended by about the same number of 
troops under General Samuel Smith. Hearing of the land- 
ing of the British, he sent General Strieker with 3,200 
men to oppose their advance. General Ross was killed 
in a preliminary skirmish. The battle was carried on 
for four hours, when the Americans fell back toward the 
city and the British bivouacked on the field. Of 5,000 
British engaged, 39 were killed and 251 wounded. The 
American loss was 24 killed, 139 wounded and 50 missing. 

Fort McHenry, Bombardment of— [Sept. 13, 1814]— 
The British planned to take Baltimore by a combined land 
and sea attack. The night after the battle of North Point 
the British remained on the field. The following morn- 
ing. Sept. 13, 1814, Cochrane's fleet, consisting of sixteen 
heavy vessels, five of them bombships, began the attack on 
Fort McHenry, three miles southeast of the city. The 
fort was defended by General Armistead with about 800 
men. The bombardment continued twenty-five hours, 
1,500 to 1,800 shells being thrown from the ships, about 
400 falling within the works. The American loss was 4 
killed and 24 wounded. 

The British withdrew after losing two vessels and a 
large number of men. 

Lake Borgne — [Dec. 14, 1814] — After their repulse at 
Baltimore, the British army retired down the Chesapeake 
in Admiral Cochrane's ships and sailed for Jamaica, where 
they were joined by more than 4,000 troops under the 
command of General Keane. Nov. 26, 1814, the aug- 
mented forces, numbering more than 7,000 land troops, 



180 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

left Negril Bay, Jamaica, aboard some fifty vessels, with 
the intention of capturing New Orleans and thus securing 
possession of the Mississippi River and the territory of 
Louisiana. The Americans had been warned of the ex- 
pedition and General Jackson had been sent to defend 
New Orleans. With the arrival of hastily summoned vol- 
unteers from neighboring states he found himself in com- 
mand of about 5,000 effective men less than 1,000 of whom 
were regulars. 

Early in December Daniel T. Patterson, commanding 
the naval station at New Orleans, sent Lieutenant Thomas 
A. C. Jones with seven small vessels, mounting twenty- 
three guns, and carrying 182 men to intercept the fleet. 
Upon their discovery the British manned sixty barges 
with 1,200 volunteers from the fleet under Captain Lock- 
yer, Dec. 14, 1814, and sent them out to destroy the Ameri- 
can gunboats. Lieutenant Jones anchored his vessels 
across the narrow channel, near the Malheureux Islands, 
opening into Lake Borgne, and gave battle. The conflict 
lasted almost an hour. Several of the British barges were 
shattered and sunk and about 300 men killed and wound- 
ed. Lieutenant Jones and his successor in command were 
wounded, and their fleet, overcome by force of numbers, 
surrendered. The Americans lost only 6 men killed and 
35 wounded. The capture of the gunboats gave the Brit- 
ish control of Lake Borgne. 

Villere's Plantation— [Dec. 23, 1814]— After the cap- 
ture of Jones's gunboats in Lake Borgne the British ex- 
pedition, under the command of General Keane and 
Colonel Thornton, pushed on toward New Orleans by 
way of the Bayou Bienvenu and Villere's Canal. The ad- 
vance of the invading party numbered 1,950 men, who 
were reinforced by 400, making a total of 2,350. Dec. 23, 
1814, within an hour after hearing that the British were 



THE WAR OF 1812. 181 

approaching, General Jackson had 1,800 of his troops on 
the march to meet them. Half the invading army had ap- 
proached to within nine miles of New Orleans without 
serious check. The schooner Carolina, Captain John D. 
Henley, dropped down the river to a point opposite Vil- 
lere's, and opened a terrible fire upon the invading army, 
killing or maiming 100 men in ten minutes. The general 
engagement lasted about two hours. Both combatants 
retired from the field in the darkness. The loss of the 
Americans was 24 killed, 115 wounded and 74 prisoners, 
213 in all, while that of the British was about 400 men. 

Chalmette's Plantation— [Dec. 28, 1814] — After the in- 
decisive engagement at Villere's plantation, Dec. 23, 1814, 
Sir Edward Pakenham joined the British army with re- 
inforcements which swelled the invading forces to 8,000. 
The Carolina was abandoned by her American crew and 
she blew up Dec. 27. In the morning of the 28th the 
British advanced to Chalmette's plantation exposed to the 
deadly fire of the Louisiana, Lieutenant Thompson, which 
had taken the place of the Carolina. Jackson awaited the 
movement with 4,000 men and twenty pieces of artillery. 
The British were led into the engagement in two columns 
under Generals Keane and Gibbs. 

After facing the heavy fire of the American sharpshoot- 
ers for a short time, Sir Edward Pakenham ordered a 
retreat. The British loss in the engagement was about 
150. The loss of the Americans was 9 killed and 8 wound- 
ed. One man on board the Louisiana was killed. More 
than 800 shots were hurled from her guns with deadly 
power. One of them is known to have killed and wound- 
ed 15 men. 

Rodriguez's Canal— [Jan. 1, 1815]— The result of the 
engagement at Chalmette's plantation determined Pak- 
enham to attempt no further advance until reinforced with 



182 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the heavy guns from the vessels. Accordingly redoubts 
were thrown up along Rodriguez's Canal and heavy siege 
guns were mounted. Jackson had also strengthened his 
defenses, when, on Jan. 1, 1815, the British opened fire. 
The assailants were more than surprised by the furious 
fire returned. Heavy cannonading continued for nearly 
four hours, when the British withdrew from the attack, 
with a loss of 32 men killed, 44 wounded and 2 missing. 
The Americans lost 11 killed and 23 wounded. 

New Orleans — [Jan. 8, 1815] — Within a week after the 
battle of Rodriguez's Canal both Jackson and Sir Edward 
Pakenham received reinforcements. Jackson's whole 
force on the New Orleans side of the river on Jan. 7, 1815, 
was about 5,000, of which only 2,200 were at the front. 
Only 800 of the latter were regulars. On the opposite side 
of the river was General Morgan with 800 militia. This 
force of 5,800, indifferently armed and disciplined, was 
confronted by 10,000 of the finest soldiers in the world, 
most of them fresh from the continental campaign under 
Wellington. The Americans were entrenched 'behind 
their fortifications, which the British were compelled to 
approach across an open plain. 

In the conflict 2,600 were lost to the British, of whom 
700 were killed, more than 1,400 were wounded and 500 
were taken prisoners. General Pakenham and 12 other 
officers were among the killed. The Americans lost only 
8 killed and 13 wounded. No other battle in history pre- 
sents this disparity in the number of casualties. 

Fort St. Philip, Bombardment of— [Jan. 8, 1815]— 
While the British were burying their dead before New 
Orleans a portion of the fleet made an attack on Fort St. 
Philip, at a bend in the Mississippi between seventy and 
eighty miles below the city. It contained a garrison of 
366 men under Major Overton and was supported by a 



THE WAR OF 1812. 183 

gunboat in a bayou to the rear with a crew of 50 men. 
The attacking force consisted of a sloop-of-war, a gun 
brig, a schooner and two bomb vessels. The bombard- 
ment began Jan. 8 and was continued for five days. Two 
Americans were killed and seven wounded. The assail- 
ants retired without accomplishing any purpose. 

President, Capture of — [Jan. 15, 1815] — On the after- 
noon of Jan. 15, 1815, the United States frigate Presi- 
dent, Captain Decatur, forty-four guns, was pursued just 
outside New York harbor by the British frigates Endym- 
ion, forty guns; Pomone, thirty-eight guns; Tenedos, 
thirty-eight guns, and the Majestic. A running fight was 
kept up from three P. M. till eleven P. M., when, sur- 
rounded by the enemy, Decatur surrendered to Captain 
Hayes of the Majestic. The American loss was 24 killed, 
56 wounded; British loss, 11 killed, 14 wounded. 

Constitution - Cyane - Levant — [Feb. 20, 1815] — The 
Constitution, then under command of Captain Charles 
Stewart, and carrying fifty-two guns and 470 men, cap- 
tured the British frigate Cyane, Captain Talcoln, twenty 
guns and 185 men, on Feb. 20, 1815. The brig Levant, 
eighteen guns, Captain Douglass, was taken at the same 
time. The British loss was 77, and that of the Americans 
3 killed and 12 wounded. 

Hornet-Penguin— [March 23, 1815]— Off the Cape of 
Good Hope, the American sloop-of-war Hornet, Captain 
Lawrence, eighteen guns and 135 men, captured and sank 
the British brig Penguin, eighteen guns, the latter losing 
her commander in the engagement. Shortly after this 
battle the Hornet was chased by the British frigate Corn- 
wallis, seventy-four guns, and only escaped capture by 
throwing overboard her guns and heavy stores. 



CREEK INDIAN WAR. 



It had been the highest ambition of Tecumseh, the no- 
torious Shawnee Chief, and his brother, the Prophet, to 
unite all the Indians in America into a confederacy for 
the extermination of the whites. They had succeeded in 
engendering a bitter hatred of Americans in the minds 
of many of the reds when the second war broke out with 
England in 1812. Tecumseh seized upon this opportunity 
to wreak vengeance upon the settlers. Harrison had de- 
feated him and his Shawnees at Tippecanoe. With what 
northwestern Indians he could collect he allied himself to 
the British and was made a brigadier general. He was 
killed at the battle of the Thames in Canada, Oct. 5, 1813, 
but the mischief that he wrought survived him. 

His efforts among the southern Indians served to split 
the Creek Nation of Indians into two factions. One of 
these favored peace and civilization. The other counseled 
a continuance of the nomadic life of their fathers and un- 
dying hostility to the whites. The latter faction, under 
Weathersford or Red Eagle, became very troublesome in 
1813 and expeditions of militia were sent against them 
from Tennessee and Georgia. 

The first serious outbreak was the massacre of the gar- 
rison and refugees at Fort Mims. Self protection and a 
desire for revenge took possession of the people of Ten- 
nessee and Georgia. General Jackson took the field at 
the head of the Tennessee militia. General Floyd had led 
the Georgians to avenge the massacre and General Clai- 
borne was acting at the head of troops from Louisiana 
and Mississippi. The war lasted only eight months. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Burnt Corn Creek— [July 27, 1813]— As a result of Te- 
<:umseh's efforts to induce all the southern Indians to join 
in a war of extermination against the whites, the Creeks 
were divided into two factions, one of which favored war, 
while the other counseled peace. Peter McQueen, a half- 
breed, of Tallahassee, was one of the leaders of the war 
party. In 1813, that leader having assured the British 
agents at Pensacola of his ability to enlist large numbers 
-of Creek warriors against the Americans, he was given 
large quantities of supplies, under sanction of the Spanish 
governor. On learning of this Colonel James Caller, of 
Washington, set out, July 25, 1813, to disperse the Indians 
and intercept the supplies. On the morning of July 27 
Caller's command, increased by reinforcements of 180 
men, came upon McQueen's party at their camp on Burnt 
Corn Creek. The Indians were surprised and at first fled 
into the woods in disorder, leaving their pack horses to 
the whites. They soon returned, however, and pounced 
upon a hundred of Caller's men with horrid yells. A se- 
vere fight ensued. Overwhelming numbers compelled Cal- 
ler's men to retreat. Two men were killed and 15 wound- 
ed in the engagement. The Indian loss was not ascer- 
tained. 

Fort Mims Massacre — [August 30, 1813] — In the sum- 
mer of 1813, the inhabitants of Alabama, frightened by 
the hostile action of the Creek Indians led by McQueen 
and Weathersford, took refuge at Fort Mims, near Mont- 
gomery, Ala., and near the Alabama River, ten miles 
above its junction with the Tombigbee. The place con- 



186 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

sisted of a stockade and block house and was garrisoned 
by 16 regulars and about 240 volunteers. At noon on 
August 30, 1813, about 1,000 Indians under Weathers- 
ford and the prophet Francis surprised the fort. It con- 
tained at the time 550 presons, more than 300 of whom 
were women and children. The whites resisted desper- 
ately. Four hundred were massacred, including all the 
women and children. The negroes were made slaves to 
the Indians. Twelve men of the garrison escaped into the 
swamp. 

Tallasehatche — [Nov. 3, 1813] — The massacre at Fort 
Mims spread consternation through all the country in- 
habited by the Creeks, and hardy volunteers came for- 
ward thirsting for vengeance. General Jackson led the 
Tennessee militia across the line into Alabama. Upon 
his arrival at the Coosa he was informed that the Creeks 
were assembled at Tallasehatche, a town in an open wood- 
land, not far from the present village of Jacksonville, the 
county seat of Benton County, Ala., on the southeast side 
of the Tallasehatche Creek. Jackson sent General Coffee 
with 1,000 horsemen to destroy the town. 

Nov. 3, 1813, Coffee's men surrounded the town and 
the Indians came out to drive them off. The battle was 
short, sharp and desperate. The victory for the whites 
was complete. Every warrior was killed. None asked 
for quarter and each fought to the death. At the close of 
the battle 186 bodies were counted on the plain. It is 
believed that 200 were killed. Eighty-four women and 
children were made prisoners. The loss to the whites 
was 5 men killed and 41 wounded. 

Talladega — [Nov. 9, 1813] — After the destruction of 
Tallasehatche, Jackson was informed that 160 friendly 
Creek warriors with their families were hemmed in at 
Talladega in Lashley's fort, by 1,000 hostile Indians 



CREEK INDIAN WAR. 187 

Nov. 8, 1813, Jackson set out with 1,200 infantry and 800 
cavalry to raise the siege. By four o'clock the next morn- 
ing he had surrounded the enemy, who, 1,080 strong, 
were concealed in the thickets. At daylight the battle be- 
gan and resulted in the complete rout of the savages. As 
many as 290 dead warriors were found and many others 
doubtless perished in the woods of the surrounding moun- 
tains. The number of the wounded could not be ascer- 
tained, but was large. The loss to the whites was 15 killed 
and 85 wounded. 

Hillabee Towns, Destruction of— [Nov. 18, 1813]— 
General Cocke, in command of the troops from East Ten- 
nessee, advancing into Alabama to form a junction with 
Jackson's army, learned that Bill Scott, who had com- 
manded the Indians at Talladega, was among the Hilla- 
bees, a Creek tribe who were anxious for peace. Cocke, 
ignorant of the peaceful disposition of the Indians, dis- 
patched General White, with some mounted men and a 
band of Cherokee allies against the principal Hillabee 
town. White burned two deserted Indian towns, Ock- 
fuske and Genalga, and on Nov. 18, 1813, appeared before 
the chief village of the Hillabees, on the border between 
the present Talladega and Randolph counties, Alabama, 
about 100 miles from Fort Armstrong, and fell furiously 
upon the unresisting inhabitants, and murdered 60 war- 
riors before showing mercy. Two hundred and fifty wid- 
ows and orphans were taken to Fort Armstrong as pris- 
oners. Not a single white person was injured in the expe- 
dition. 

Auttose Towns, Destruction of— [Nov. 29, 1813]— The 
news of the massacre of whites at Fort Mims having 
spread into Georgia, Brigadier General John Floyd, at 
the head of 950 state militia and 400 friendly Indians, 
started on an expedition of chastisement. Nov. 28, 1813> 



188 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

he encamped within a few miles of two Auttose villages, 
built on what the Indians considered holy ground, and 
where the medicine men taught them the bullets of the 
white man would prove ineffectual. Between midnight 
and dawn of the 29th the attack was made. The Indians 
fought fiercely, but were overwhelmed and driven to the 
woods and caves in confusion, where they were hunted 
down like foxes and shot on sight. It is estimated that 
fully 200 were slain. Their dwellings, about 400 in num- 
ber, were destroyed. Floyd lost 11 killed and 54 wounded. 

Econochaco, or Holy Ground— [Dec. 23, 1813]— In Oc- 
tober, 1813, General Claiborne received orders from Gen- 
eral Flournoy, in command of the military department of 
the Gulf, to proceed to the heart of the Creek country and 
destroy the property and kill the Indians. Dec. 23, 1813, 
he was in battle order with about 1,000 men, before Econ- 
ochaco, or Holy Ground, situated on a bluff on the left 
bank of the Alabama, just below the present Powells 
Ferry, Lowndes County. The savage priests had taught 
that Econochaco was so holy that no white man could set 
foot upon it and live. It was a place of refuge for women, 
children, wounded and straggling warriors and medicine 
men. At the very hour of Claiborne's arrival the prophets 
were performing their incantations preparatory to sacri- 
ficing a number of Indians friendly to the whites. After 
a short resistance the Indians broke and fled. Claiborne 
burned the town after it had been plundered by the Choc- 
taws. About 30 Indians were killed and 200 houses 
burned. The assailants lost 1 killed and 6 wounded. 

Emucfau — [Jan. 22, 1814] — In January, 1814, Jackson 
again took the field against the Indians. He had at his 
disposal 930 volunteers, together with 200 Cherokee and 
friendly Creek Indians. With General Coffee he made a 
raid toward the Tallapoosa, and on the night of Jan. 21 



CREEK INDIAN WAR. 189 

he camped at Emucfau, on a bend in the Tallapoosa, in 
Tallapoosa county, southern Alabama. Indications point- 
ed to the presence of Indians, and the whites kept vigil 
all the night. At dawn of the 22d the savages made the 
attack. The Indians were repulsed. General Coffee was 
wounded. His aid-de-camp and two or three others were 
killed. Several privates also were wounded. Jackson 
abandoned his excursion after this battle and retired 
toward Fort Strother. 

Enotochopco Creek — [Jan. 24, 1814] — After the en- 
counter with the Indians at Emucfau, Jackson began a 
retrograde movement toward Fort Strother. The savages 
interpreted this movement as flight and crept stealthily 
along the flanks of the army until Jan. 24, 1814, two days 
after the battle of Emucfau. On that day, while Jack- 
son's army was crossing Enotochopco Creek in Randolph 
County, Ala., the Indians attacked their rear and flanks. 
The whites immediately changed front and sent a storm 
of grape shot among the foe that sent them scurrying into 
the woods. The loss in this battle was never accurately 
ascertained, but that of Jackson's army in this and the 
preceding battle of Emucfau was 20 killed and 75 wound- 
ed. Though the loss of the Indians was not known, 189 
of their warriors were found dead upon the field. 

Calebee Creek — [Jan. 27, 1814] — In his expedition 
against the Creek Indians General Floyd, with more than 
1,200 Georgia volunteers, a company of cavalry and 400 
friendly Indians, arrived at the Calebee Creek on the night 
of Jan. 26, 1814, and established a camp on the high land 
bordering a swamp of that name in Macon County, Ala., 
fifty miles west of Fort Mitchell. Before dawn of the 
following morning the camp was suddenly attacked by 
the Indians. The assailants were received with grape 
shot and bayonet charge, and fled in dismay. They were 



190 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

pursued through the swamp and many were slain. They 
left 37 dead in the pathway of their flight. The whites 
lost 17 killed and 132 wounded. Of the friendly Indians 
5 were killed and 15 wounded. After this battle Floyd 
retired to Fort Mitchell, where most of his men were dis- 
charged. No other expedition against the Creeks was 
organized in Georgia. 

Horse Shoe Bend— [March 27, 1814]— When Jackson 
was informed of the arrival of Creeks in considerable 
numbers in Tallapoosa County he resolved to strike a de- 
cisive blow. He sent his stores down the Coosa River 
from Fort Strother in flatboats and marched his army 
against the gathering Indians. On March 27, 1814, with 
2,000 effective men, he halted within a few miles of the 
breastworks at the Horse Shoe Bend of Tallapoosa River, 
where 1,200 Indians, one-fourth women and children, had 
entrenched themselves, with an ample supply of food. 
The whites and their Indian allies soon had the camp en- 
tirely surrounded. The Indians fought desperately. They 
were attacked in front with bayonet and ball, and the 
torch was applied to their camp in the rear. 

The battle lasted all day, and in the evening 557 Creek 
warriors were dead in the little peninsula and some 200 
more were killed while trying to escape. The loss to the 
whites was 32 killed and 99 wounded. The Cherokees 
lost 18 killed and 36 wounded. Some 300 women and chil- 
dren were taken prisoners. The spirit of the Indians was 
broken by this battle. Weathersford, the chief, appeared 
personally before General Jackson and offered to sur- 
render. He was permitted to go free and counsel peace 
among his dejected followers. 



BLACK HAWK WAR. 



In 1830 a treaty was negotiated with the Sac and Fox 
Indians by which they ceded their lands in Illinois to the 
United States. Black Hawk, an old chief of the Sacs, who 
had fought with the British in the War of 1812, refused to 
abide by the terms of the treaty, and after crossing the 
Mississippi into Iowa, returned to Rock Island, 111., and 
disputed the rights of the government surveyors. He was 
driven away by the troops, but returned the following 
year (1832) with about 1,000 Sac, Fox and Winnebago 
warriors. He was permitted to ascend the Rock River 
valley on his pretense that the Indians wanted to plant 
corn. Instead of this they devastated the frontier settle- 
ments. The troops at Rock Island were sent against 
them and Generals Scott and Atkinson were sent from 
Buffalo and St. Louis with reinforcements. 

The Indians returned to their Illinois lands without 
hostile intention, as is shown by the fact that they brought 
with them their women and children. They either mis- 
understood the terms of their treaty or thought they could 
abrogate it at will. When pursued by federal and state 
troops, it is likely the braves intended to send the women 
and children back across the. Mississippi and themselves 
remain and fight for their lands. 

The governor of Illinois called for volunteers and soon 
an effective force of 2,400 men were in the field. The In- 
dians fled up the Rock River and were driven into Wis- 
consin, where they were finally defeated near the mouth 
of the Bad Axe River, after a campaign of ten weeks. 
Black Hawk was captured and later released. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Stillman's Run— [May 14, 1832]— In 1832 Black Hawk r 
the aged chief of the Sacs, crossed the Mississippi and 
ascended the Rock River with 700 of his most warlike fol- 
lowers. The governor of Illinois called for volunteers 
and in a few days 800 men rallied at Beardstown, and un- 
der the leadership of Brigadier General Samuel White- 
side of the state militia proceeded up the Mississippi to 
the mouth of the Rock River. They then went on up the 
Rock River to Dixon, where they halted to await the ar- 
rival of General Atkinson and the regulars from Rock 
Island with provisions. From Dixon 275 men from Mc- 
Lean, Tazewell, Peoria and Fulton counties were or- 
dered forward under Major Stillman on May 12, 1832. 
The next day they started and the following day came 
upon the Indians at Old Man's Run (now known as Still- 
man's Run), a tributary of the Rock River. Three Indians 
were slain, but soon the volunteers were in full retreat, 
followed by the whole band of savages. Eleven of Still- 
man's men were killed before the detachment reached 
the main body of the army at Dixon, and 5 were wounded. 
Next day General Whiteside, with 1,500 volunteers, ven- 
tured to the battle ground and buried the dead. 

Indian Creek Massacre — In May, 1832, a party of sev- 
enty of Black Hawk's warriors made a descent upon the 
small settlement of Indian Creek, a tributary of the Fox 
River in Illinois, about fifteen miles from Ottawa, and 
massacred 15 persons, men, women and children, of the 
families of Hall, Davis and Pettigrew, and took two young- 
women prisoners. The latter were afterward ransomed. 



BLACK HAWK WAR. 193 

Pekatonica River — [June 18, 1832] — Black Hawk's 
warriors, having been driven up the Rock River Valley, 
in Illinois, were committing depredations in the vicinity 
of Galena. They killed three men at Fort Hamilton, in 
the lead mining district, and Colonel Henry Dodge, of 
Wisconsin, who arrived soon after with twenty men, pur- 
sued them to their hiding place on the Pekatonica River. 
In the fight which ensued upon their discovery the whole 
body of 17 Indians were killed or died of wounds received. 
Colonel Dodge lost 3 men. 

Wisconsin Heights— [July 21, 1832]— General Atkin- 
son, in his pursuit of Black Hawk and his band, moved up 
the Rock River Valley in Illinois. Reinforced by the com- 
mands of Generals James D. Henry and Henry Dodge of 
the Illinois militia the expedition, numbering about 1,600 
men, traversed the dense forests and rocky hills between 
the Rock River and the Wisconsin, in constant danger of 
ambuscade, enduring great privation, and guided by such 
information as the forest trails afforded or what was given 
by friendly Indians, often unreliable. 

Black Hawk, with 1,000 of his band, was supposed to be 
between the Wisconsin and Rock Rivers. About the mid- 
dle of July the pursuers came to the Four Lake Country 
of Wisconsin, in the vicinity of the lakes now known as 
Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa. July 21, 1832, 
the detachment crossed the Crawfish Creek near Azatlan 
and went westward between the Third and Fourth lakes, 
now the site of the city of Madison, the capital of Wis- 
consin. The Indians were overtaken in the afternoon on 
the high bluffs of the Wisconsin River, about forty miles 
above Fort Winnebago, exhausted, starving and disheart- 
ened. They were charged on the heights and sixteen of 
their number killed. The whites suffered no loss. Dark- 
ness prevented pursuit. 



194 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Bad Axe — [August 2, 1832] — The combined forces of 
Atkinson, Henry and Dodge, numbering 1,600 men, 
crossed to the north side of the Wisconsin at Helena on 
the 28th and 29th of July. Five miles to the north an In- 
dian trail four days old was discovered leading to the Miss- 
issippi. Black Hawk, unable to escape down the Wiscon- 
sin was endeavoring to cross to the west bank of the Miss- 
issippi with the remnants of his starved and broken band. 

August 1, the chief and about 150 braves appeared on 
the banks and hailed the steamboat Warrior, Captain 
Throckmorton, which had been sent up from Prairie du 
Chien to support Atkinson. The Indians waved white 
flags, but were answered with a volley of canister and 
musketry, in which 23 of their number were killed. They 
returned the fire and wounded 1 man. 

Next morning the Indians were surrounded in the valley 
at the mouth of the Bad Axe River by Atkinson's army. 
The Indians were driven from hill to hill and from one 
hiding place to another. The band was scattered and the 
engagement ended in a massacre. The loss to the whites 
was 27 killed and wounded. The Indians must have lost 
near 200. Black Hawk escaped, but August 27, voluntarily 
surrendered to General Street at Prairie du Chien. 



SEMINOLE WAR. 



The Seminole Indians were a mixed tribe who had 
separated from the Creek confederacy of Muskhogean 
stock. This name is from the Creek dialect and means 
"renegade." During the War of 1812 they inhabited 
Georgia and Florida, the latter then a Spanish possession, 
and rendered material aid to the British in their second 
war with America. They also welcomed to their camp- 
fires fugitive slaves from the neighboring states. In ad- 
dition to these natural grounds for animosity the whites 
coveted their lands, and often urged the federal govern- 
ment to make war upon the Indians for the reclamation 
of slaves. During the war Spain had permitted the Brit- 
ish to erect a fort on the Appalachicola River about fifteen 
miles from its mouth. At the close of the war the British 
abandoned the fort, leaving arms and ammunition, which 
was seized by the Indians and negroes and became known 
as the Negro Fort. This fort was a source of anxiety to 
both the slave owners and the military authorities, and it 
was blown up July 27, 1816, by General Gaines, who had 
been sent to the border to maintain peace. Nearly 300 
negro and Choctaw men, women and children were killed. 
The chief village of the hostile Creeks was later burned 
and the Indians then began aggressive warfare. 

General Jackson was placed in command of the United 
States forces and proceeded against the Seminoles, reach- 
ing the Florida border in March, 1818. He pursued the 
Indians into Spanish territory, captured the town of St. 
Marks, and executed two British subjects whom he found 
among his prisoners, on the ground that they had incited 



196 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the Indians to hostilities against the Americans. Jackson 
then returned home, stopping at Pensacola on the way to 
depose the Spanish government and establish the author- 
ity of the United States in its stead. He justified himself 
for this latter act by the claim that Spain could not prop- 
erly police the territory claimed by her. St. Marks and 
Pensacola were afterward returned to Spain. Florida was 
acquired by the United States by treaty with Spain 
Feb. 22, 1819. Finally in 1834 a treaty was ratified by 
which the Indians agreed to relinquish their possessions 
and take up their abode in Indian Territory upon pay- 
ment to them of $15,400. 

A portion of the tribe under the leadership of Osceola 
refused to go, claiming that the government had secured 
the treaty by false representations. Osceola was the son 
of an English trader who had married the daughter of a 
Seminole chief. While on a trading expedition to Fort 
King, his wife was taken from him on the allegation that 
she was the daughter of a fugitive slave. He threatened 
vengeance against the whites and for his violent language 
General Thompson, Indian agent at the fort, put him in 
chains. He was released in a few days and on Dec. 28, 
1835, he killed Thompson and several others at the fort 
and fled to the everglades. Then ensued the longest, 
costliest and bloodiest Indian war in American history. 
It was participated in by Generals Scott, Taylor, Call, 
Jesup and others with varying success. Oct. 22, 1837, 
Osceola was lured into the power of the whites under a 
flag of truce. He was then made prisoner and taken to 
Fort Moultrie, where he died the following year. His fol- 
lowers agreed to emigrate, but maintained the struggle 
until 1842, when they were removed to Indian Territory, 
some 200 of the tribe remaining in Florida. The number 
officially reported taken to the territory was 3,824. 



SEMINOLE WAR. 197 

General Clinch was in command of the United States 
posts on the border when Osceola and his followers be- 
gan their depredations. Clinch had 250 regulars and was 
joined by 650 militia. The savages were said to number 
4,000, and they were joined by runaway negroes and out- 
laws of every description. General Gaines was succeeded 
by General Scott, and he by Jesup, Zachary Taylor, Ma- 
comb, Armistead and William J. Worth. The dates and 
places of the principal skirmishes follow, but the details 
of action are hardly of sufficient military importance to 
receive separate notice as battles: 

Allachua Savannah, Dec. 19, 1835. Micanopy, Dec. 20, 
1835. 

Dec. 28, 1835, Major Dade, with two companies of regu- 
lars numbering in all 110 men, started from Tampa Bay 
to march to Fort King. He was attacked by Indians, and 
after a stubborn fight, his command were all killed but 3 
men, who escaped. 

General Clinch, with 200 regulars and about 650 militia, 
attempted to cross the Ouithlacoochee River about twenty 
miles from its mouth Dec. 31, 1835. They were attacked 
by the Indians, who were repulsed, after a loss to the 
whites of about 60. 

Dunlawtown, Jan. 18, 1836. Oloklikaha, March 31, 
1836. Cooper's Post, April 5-17, 1836. Thlonotosassa 
Creek, April 27, 1836. Micanopy, June 9, 1836. Welika 
Pond, July .9, 1836. Ridgely's Mill, July 27, 1836. Fort 
Drane, August 12, 1836. Ouithlacoochee, Nov. 14, 18, 
1836. Wahoo Swamp, Nov. 21, 1836. Hatcheeluskee 
Creek, Jan. 27, 1837. Camp Monroe, Feb. 8, 1837. Clear 
River, Feb. 9, 1837. Mosquito Inlet, Sept. 10, 1837. 

Colonel Taylor, with about 1,000 men, set out from Fort 
Gardner, near the Ouithlacoochee, Dec. 25, 1837. He 
came upon the main body of the Indians in a swamp and 



198 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

in the engagement lost 26 killed and 112 wounded. The 
Indian loss is supposed to have been about the same. 

Waccassassa River, Dec. 25, 1837. Jupiter Creek, 
Jan. 15, 1838. Jupiter Inlet, Jan. 24, 1838. Newmansville, 
June 17, 1838. Carloosahatchee, July 23, 1839. Fort 
King, April 28, 1840. Leoy's Prairie, May 19, 1840. Wac- 
cahoota, Sept. 6, 1840. Everglades, Dec. 3-24, 1840. Mi- 
canopy, Dec. 28, 1840. Fort Brooks, March 2, 1841. 
Wade's Expedition, Nov. 6, 1841. Hawe Creek, Jan. 25, 
1842. 

General William J. Worth found a party in the Palaklak- 
laha swamp, in the vicinity of the St. John's River, April 19. 
1842. He drove them out of their camp, killing 2, wounding 
3 and capturing 1. Hallock-Tuttenuggee, the chief who had 
commanded the Indians, surrendered, and later 25 other 
chiefs surrendered and Worth declared hostilities ended, 
and the refugees were transferred to their new country. 



MEXICAN WAR. 



March 2, 1836, Texas, which had been settled mainly 
by emigrants from the United States, declared her inde- 
pendence of Mexico. A constitutional government was 
set up modeled after that of the United States, with Gen- 
eral Houston as President. On the 21st of the following 
April Houston, with about 800 Americans, met and de- 
feated the Mexican army of 1,500 under command of Gen- 
eral Santa Anna, at San Jacinto. Santa Anna, who was 
president of Mexico, was taken prisoner and concluded 
an armistice with the victorious Texans. He promised to 
evacuate the territory and secure the recognition of Texan 
independence. The United States recognized the new re- 
public in March, 1837. The Mexican Congress refused 
to ratify Santa Anna's agreement, but Texas maintained 
her position with but little further fighting. The repub- 
lic was recognized by France in 1839 and by England, 
Holland and Belgium in 1840. In less than a year after 
the United States had recognized the independence of 
Texas, the latter asked for admission to the union. This 
was at first refused, as the constitution of Texas provided 
for slavery, and the opponents of that institution saw in 
its admission the transfer of the balance of power in Con- 
gress to the pro-slavery party. 

Finally by a joint resolution approved March 1, 1845, 
Texas became a part of the United States. The territory 
claimed by Texas and ceded by her to the United States 
extended to the Rio Grande River on the west and south- 
west. Mexico held that Texas had never exercised author- 
ity over any part of New Mexico or south of the river 



200 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Nueces. Upon this issue hostilities began in 1864. Gen- 
eral Zachary Taylor, commanding the United States forces 
in the new state, was ordered to occupy a position on the 
Rio Grande. He proceeded to a point opposite Matamoras 
where he built Fort Brown. Congress voted men and 
money for the prosecution of the war, and Taylor crossed 
into Mexican territory and defeated Santa Anna's army 
at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma and Monterey. The 
next year (1847) by the defeat of the Mexicans at Buena 
Vista, Taylor became master of the northeastern prov- 
inces. In the meantime New Mexico had been taken pos- 
session of almost without opposition, by an expedition 
under Captain Philip Kearny, which marched from the 
Missouri River to Santa Fe, whence a detachment was sent 
to invade Chihuahua. July 4, 1846, a small party of 
Americans under Captain Fremont declared the inde- 
pendence of California at Sonora, and with the co-opera- 
tion of a fleet commanded by Commodore Sloat, and later 
by Stockton, obtained control of that province. 

In the spring of 1847 General Scott was sent to Mexico, 
and after a bombardment of Vera Cruz by the naval ves- 
sels proceeded with about 10,000 men toward the city 
of Mexico. A series of brilliant victories marked his prog- 
ress, and on Sept. 14, 1847, with 6,500 men, Scott entered 
the city of Mexico. This practically ended the war and 
by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Feb. 2, 1848, Mexico 
ceded the whole of Texas, New Mexico and Upper Cali- 
fornia to the United States upon payment by the latter of 
$15,000,000, and the assumption of certain claims against 
Mexico. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Fort Brown, Attack on— [May 3-10, 1846]— The cer- 
tainty of trouble with Mexico in consequence of the an- 
nexation of Texas to the Union caused the War Depart- 
ment to send all the available troops in the south and west 
to the Texas frontier. The territory between the Nueces 
and Rio Grande rivers was claimed by both Texas and 
Mexico. General Zachary Taylor collected an army of 
4,000 men at Corpus Christi, near the mouth of the 
Nueces, in November, 1845. Jan. 13, 1864, Taylor was or- 
dered to advance to a position on the Rio Grande, and on 
March 25 he occupied Point Isabel, on the coast of the 
Gulf of Mexico, just north of the mouth of the river. A 
party of 63 dragoons sent on a reconnoitring expedition 
up the river were surprised April 24, and overcome by a 
superior number of Mexicans. This was the first skirmish 
of the war. Sixteen of the Americans were killed or 
wounded and the remainder made prisoners. Three days 
later some Texas rangers were surprised and several 
killed and wounded. 

During April General Taylor had advanced his army up 
the Rio Grande to a point opposite Matamoras, which 
was occupied by the Mexican army under General Arista. 
Here the Americans built a fort under the direction of 
Major Brown and named it in his honor. Learning that 
bodies of Mexicans had crossed the river both above and 
below him with the intention of cutting him off from his 
supplies at Point Isabel, Taylor fell back toward the latter 
place on May 1. Learning of his departure the Mexicans, 
on May 3, began a heavy bombardment of Fort Brown, 



202 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

which was continued at intervals until the 10th. It was 
gallantly defended by Major Brown and Captains Hawkins 
and Mansfield. The former was killed during the engage- 
ment. The only other fatality was Sergeant Weigert. 
Thirteen privates were wounded. 

Palo Alto — [May 8, 1846] — When the sound of the 
booming guns of Matamoras fell upon the ears of Gen- 
eral Taylor at Point Isabel, twenty-seven miles away, on 
the morning of May 3, 1846, he made ready to relieve 
the garrison at Fort Brown. It was not until the evening 
of May 7 that he was able to leave his supply depot. With 
a force of 2,288 men he started on the march. At noon 
on the following day, when about half the distance between 
Point Isabel and Fort Brown had been covered, Taylor's 
army came in sight of the enemy at the water hole of 
Palo Alto (tall timber). The regular force of the Mex- 
icans under Arista was 6,000 men, besides irregular troops, 
and 12 pieces of artillery. Battle was immediately begun 
and fiercely fought till set of sun. By the light of the 
moon and the burning prairie grass the belligerents buried 
their dead. The Mexicans lost 200 killed and 400 wound- 
ed. The Americans lost 4 men killed, 3 officers and 37 
men wounded, several of the latter mortally. 

Resaca de la Palma — [May 9, 1846] — The day following 
the battle of Palo Alto, General Taylor's army of 2,200 
proceeded on the way toward Fort Brown. When about 
three miles from the river Arista's army of 7,000, which 
had been slowly retreating before the advancing Ameri- 
cans, halted in the valley of Resaca de la Palma (dry river 
of Palms), and prepared to give battle. At three o'clock 
in the afternoon the action began. Before dark the Mexi- 
cans were completely routed. They fled in disorder across 
the river to Matamoras. Eight pieces of artillery, large 
quantities of ammunition, three standards and about 100 



MEXICAN WAR. 203 

prisoners fell into the hands of the Americans. Among 
the prisoners were General La Vega and several other 
officers. The casualties in the Mexican army were 6 offi- 
cers and 154 men killed; 23 officers and 205 men wounded, 
and 3 officers and 156 men missing, making a total of 755. 
The American loss was 3 officers and 36 men killed, and 71 
wounded. 

Monterey — [Sept. 21-24, 1846] — The Mexican army un- 
der Arista, driven across the Rio Grande, took refuge in 
Matamoras. Taylor, receiving reinforcements, demand- 
ed the surrender of that city. Arista, unable to hold the 
place, abandoned it and retreated to Monterey, 180 miles 
from the Rio Grande and 700 miles from the city of 
Mexico. 

August 18, 1846, Taylor, with a force of 6,600 men, be- 
gan the long march toward Monterey, on the way to the 
enemy's capital, having established a depot for supplies 
at Camargo, at the head of steam navigation of the Rio 
Grande. Sept. 19, the American army encamped in sight 
of Monterey, in the beautiful valley of San Juan, almost 
encircled by the Sierra Madre mountains. The city is the 
capital of the province of Nueva Leon, and the seat of the 
Catholic bishop of the diocese. It was strongly fortified 
and garrisoned by 10,000 men, mostly regulars, under 
General Ampudia. 

The attack was begun by the Americans on Sept. 21, 
and on the following morning the Bishop's palace was 
taken by assault. The city was then forced, the Mexicans 
stubbornly retreating from square to square. The fight- 
ing continued during the 22d and 23d, and on the morning 
of the 24th of September, an armistice was agreed upon, 
General Ampudia surrendered the city and was allowed to 
retire with his army. The American loss was only 12 
officers killed and 23 wounded. 



204 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

San Pasqual— [Dec. 6, 1846]— Sept. 2, 1846, Commo- 
dore Stockton, having peaceably occupied Los Angeles, 
Cal., withdrew most of his forces, leaving Captain Gilles- 
pie with 19 volunteers and a few pieces of artillery to gar- 
rison the capital. The departure of the body of the Ameri- 
can forces was the signal for a revolt incited by the Mexi- 
can officers still lingering in the vicinity of Los Angeles. 
Several hundred took the field under Flores and compelled 
Gillespie to retire aboard the Savannah at San Pedro, 
Another party of 200, under Manual Gaspar, besieged 
Lieutenant Talbot and 9 men at Santa Barbara. They 
finally escaped and joined Fremont at Monterey. When 
Stockton heard of the revolution he returned to San Pedro 
and proceeded to San Diego by way of Los Angeles. From 
San Diego he sent Captain Gillespie with an escort of 
about 35 men to join Kearny, who, having marched from 
the Missouri River and established the government of the 
United States in New Mexico, was proceeding to the con- 
quest of California. Kearny had left the main body of his 
army behind in New Mexico, and his forces, including 
Captain Gillespie's party, numbered about 100 men. 

At the Indian village of San Pasqual, about thirty miles 
from San Diego, on the morning of Dec. 6, 1846, this little 
band encountered about 180 Mexicans well mounted and 
under the leadership of Colonel Andreas Pico. They were 
charged by the Americans and after a fight of five minutes 
fled from the field. Their loss could not be ascertained, 
as they carried off all the dead and wounded but 6. The 
American loss was 19 killed and 16 wounded. 

Another skirmish took place the next day a short dis- 
tance from the village, and resulted in the death of 5 or 6 
Mexicans and no Americans, and on the 12th of Decem- 
ber they entered San Diego, Kearny and his men having 
marched 1,090 miles from Santa Fe. 



MEXICAN WAR. 205 

Brazito— [Dec. 25, 1846]— In June, 1846, while Gen- 
eral Taylor was with the Army of Occupation in Mexico, 
the Army of the West was organized at Fort Leavenworth 
on the Missouri. It consisted of 1,658 men and sixteen 
pieces of ordnance, under command of Colonel Kearny, 
of the First United States dragoons. He was ordered to 
proceed to New Mexico and take possession of Santa Fe 
and proclaim the entire territory to be under the juris- 
diction of the United States. His orders were later amend- 
ed to include California. In 50 days the army marched 883 
miles and on August 19, 1846, the American flag was float- 
ing over the citadel at Santa Fe. Not a blow had been 
struck, and a province containing 100,000 inhabitants and, 
in its commercial and military aspect, an all-important 
possession, had been added to the United States. After 
establishing a civil government at Santa Fe. Kearny 
started for California Sept. 25, with 300 United States 
dragoons and a small corps of topographical engineers. 
The main supply train and 200 dragoons were left at 
Albuquerque. Colonel Doniphan, with his own regiment 
and Weightman's battery of artillery, was ordered to pro- 
ceed southward and join Wool in Chihuahua. The whole 
force under Doniphan consisted of 856 effective men. 
Dec. 25, 1846, the advance, of 500 men, halted at the Bra- 
zito, an arm of the Rio Grande. Here they were sur- 
prised by General Ponce de Leon, with 1,220 Mexicans, 
of whom. 537 were well mounted and equipped. Upon 
their refusal to surrender, the Americans were charged 
by De Leon. For twenty minutes the fight raged, at the 
end of which time every part of the field of the foe was in 
disorderly flight. The Americans lost 7 wounded, none 
fatally. The loss to the enemy, so far as could be ascer- 
tained, was more than 70 killed and 150 missing, including 
General Ponce de Leon. 



206 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

San Gabriel, Cal.— [Jan. 8, 1847]— Dec. 29, 1846, Col- 
onel Kearny, with a force of 500 men, left San Diego for 
Los Angeles, a distance of 145 miles. Jan. 8, 1847, Flores, 
acting governor and Captain General, with 600 men and 
four pieces of artillery, was encountered on the command- 
ing heights of San Gabriel, prepared to dispute the passage 
of the Rio de los Angeles by the Americans. The baggage 
train and artillery crossed under a harassing fire and then 
the enemy was charged and in ten minutes Kearny was 
master of the field. One seaman, acting as artilleryman, 
was killed, 1 volunteer and 8 seamen wounded, 2 fatally. 

Canada — [Jan. 24, 1847] — After Colonel Kearny had 
established the authority of the United States, securely 
as he thought, in New Mexico, he proceeded toward the 
Pacific, leaving small forces in the garrisons behind. 
Jan. 15, 1847, Governor Bent, Sheriff Elliott and 20 others 
were murdered by insurgent Mexicans at Don Fernando 
de Taos, and 7 others at Turley's, eight miles distant, in 
the valley of the Moro. Colonel Sterling Price, who was 
in command at Santa Fe, learning of the uprising, started 
for the scene with a force of about 400 cavalry, infantry 
and artillery Jan. 23. Soon after noon of the 24th he en- 
countered a force of 1,500 at the village of Canada. They 
occupied a strong position in the houses and on the 
heights. After a general engagement for an hour and a 
half, Price ordered a charge and the enemy were dispersed. 
Their loss was 36 killed, 45 were captured and many 
wounded. The Americans lost 2 killed and 6 wounded. 

Taos— [Feb. 3, 1847]— Colonel Price, with about 400 
men, arrived at the town of Don Fernando de Taos, on the 
top of the Taos Mountain, Feb. 3, 1847. This place had 
been the scene of the murder of Governor Bent and party. 
The insurgents, to the number of 600, had taken refuge 
in a stone church and two other large buildings. They re- 



MEXICAN WAR. 207 

sisted the American assaults during Feb. 4, and on the 
morning of the 5th surrendered. The American loss was 
7 killed and 45 wounded, that of the Mexicans 152 killed 
and many others wounded. This practically ended the 
insurrection in New Mexico. 

Buena Vista— [Feb. 22, 23, 1847]— The loss of Mon- 
terey was followed by civil discord in Mexico. In Janu- 
ary, 1847, Parades, by a revolution, gained the executive 
chair. He proved to be unpopular and his troops were 
defeated by their countrymen, and Antonio Lopez de 
Santa Anna, who had been a political exile in Cuba, was 
invited to return. The United States blockading squadron 
at Vera Cruz permitted his ingress in hope of terminating 
the war. Instead of advocating peace Santa Anna placed 
himself at the head of 20,000 troops and marched against 
General Taylor, who had advanced the American army to 
Saltillo, 100 miles from Monterey. General Scott had 
been sent to Mexico to conduct an expedition against 
Vera Cruz with a portion of Taylor's army. 

With scarcely 5,000 men left and these mostly raw 
militia, Taylor fell back ten miles to Buena Vista, where 
he was attacked by Santa Anna's army Feb. 22, 1847. 
Taylor entrenched himself in the pass of Angostura, in the 
Sierra Madre mountains, on the road leading to San Louis 
Potosi. The engagement began at three o'clock in the 
afternoon and was suspended at dark, the loss to the 
Americans being but 4 men wounded, while the enemy 
lost more than 300 in killed and wounded. Fighting was 
renewed at dawn of the 23rd, and continued until sun- 
set. The Mexicans retired during the night to Agua 
Nueva. The American loss in killed, wounded and miss- 
ing amounted to 746; that of the Mexicans about 2,000. 

Sacramento Pass — [Feb. 28, 1874] — When Colonel 
Kearny had established the supremacy of the United 



208 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

States' authority at Santa Fe, he dispatched Colonel Doni- 
phan with 800 men to join Wool in an expedition against 
Chihuahua. Dec. 27, Doniphan reached El Paso del 
Norte, a town of about 5,000 inhabitants on the road to 
Chihuahua at one of the principal crossings of the Rio 
Grande. Here he was joined by Weightman's artillery, 
consisting of 100 men. He then proceeded toward the 
Sacramento river. Where the road to Chihuahua crosses 
the river the Mexican general Heredia was posted with 
1,575 men. Feb. 28, he was attacked by the Americans 
and driven from his position with the loss of 110 pieces 
of artillery. Colonel Doniphan and his little army entered 
the city of Chihuahua the first and second of March, 1847. 

Vera Curz— [March 12-27, 1847]— March 9, 1874, Gen- 
eral Scott, who had been ordered to Mexico to conduct 
an expedition against its capital city by way of Vera Cruz, 
landed a force of 12,000 men on the beach in the vicinity 
of that port. By March 22, the attacking forces were in 
position and the siege guns mounted. General Scott 
summoned the governor of Vera Cruz to surrender. Upon 
his refusal a bombardment was begun, and kept up until 
the morning of the 26th, when overtures for surrender 
were made by General Landero. The siege had contin- 
ued from the day of investment, March 12, to the sign- 
ing of the articles of capitulation, March 27. During this 
time the American army had thrown an aggregate weight 
of 500,000 pounds of metal into the fort. 

By the terms of surrender all the arms and ammunition 
were given to the United States, nearly 500 pieces of artil- 
lery were taken, 5,000 prisoners were taken and paroled, 
and the best part of Mexico, with its famous and almost 
impregnable fortress of San Juan d'Ulloa, became the 
property of the United States. The loss of life was Cap- 
tains Alburtis and Vinton and several privates. 



MEXICAN WAR. 209 

Cerro Gordo— [April 17, 1847]— On April 8, 1847, ten 
days after the surrender of Vera Cruz, the vanguard of 
Scott's army, under Brigadier General Twiggs, took up 
the march toward the Mexican capital. The distance to 
be covered is nearly 200 miles. Three days later they 
arrived at the foot of the Orizaba mountains fifty miles to 
the westward. Here Santa Anna, the Mexican President, 
had assembled a force of 15,000 men, entrenched in the 
heights of Cerro Gordo. The American force did not 
exceed 8,000 men. By cutting a new road around the 
mountain to the flank of the enemy and simultaneously 
assaulting front and rear the Mexicans were forced to sur- 
render. 

Santa Anna escaped with some 6,000 or 7,000 of his 
army down the road toward Jalapa. The loss to the 
Americans was 63 killed and 398 wounded. That of the 
enemy was estimated to be nearly 1,200 killed and wound- 
ed. As a result of the battle the victors acquired 3,000 
prisoners, who were paroled; between 3,000 and 4,000 
stand of arms, forty-three pieces of heavy bronze cannon 
and a large quantity of fixed ammunition. 

Contreras— [August 20, 1847]— On May 15, 1847, Gen- 
eral Worth entered the ancient city of Puebla, with the 
advance of Scott's army, having taken on the march thither 
the towns of Jalapa, La Hoya and Perote. In the lat- 
ter place he found fifty-four cannons and mortars, 11,000 
cannon balls, 14,000 bombs, and 500 muskets. 

In the two-months' campaign of Scott's army 10,000 
men had been made prisoners of war, 700 cannon, 10,000 
stand of arms and 30,000 shot and shell were taken, and 
four cities and a strong castle were occupied by Ameri- 
can troops. The army before Vera Cruz had numbered 
nearly 14,000 men. Through death, disability, discharges 
and sickness, and detachments necessarily left to garrison 



210 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the points occupied, the army at Puebla, destined to at- 
tack the capital of Mexico, was reduced to 4,500 men. At 
Puebla Scott was joined by Nicholas P. Trist, a confiden- 
tial agent of the Administration at Washington, empow- 
ered to negotiate terms of peace. 

Reinforcements were sent in sufficient numbers to swell 
the army to 10,738 men. August 7, 1847, General Twigg's 
division began its march upon the City of Mexico. By 
the 18th the entire army was at San Augustine, on the 
Acapulco road, nine miles from the city of Mexico. On 
the 19th a preliminary assault was made upon Contreras 
hill a fortified position about four miles from the city held 
by General Valencia with 6,000 men. One American offi- 
cer was killed. Early the next morning Contreras hill 
was taken by sudden assault, Valentia's army being com- 
pletely routed. The actual conflict lasted but seventeen 
minutes, the pursuit for hours. By this brilliant dash the 
Americans had gained one of the several strong positions 
by which the roads to Mexico were guarded. The aggre- 
gate loss to the Mexicans was 700 killed, 1,000 wounded, 
813 prisoners, of whom 88 were officers (including four 
generals), 22 cannon, 700 mules, and a large amount of 
arms and ammunition. The American loss was 50 men 
killed and wounded. 

Churubusco — [August 20, 1847] — About four miles 
from the heights of Contreras, or six miles by road, and 
just outside the City of Mexico, were the entrenchments 
of Churubusco. In the several fortified positions whose 
taking constituted the battle of Churubusco the Mexicans 
had 30,000 men. The several divisions of the American 
army aggregated 9,000. August 20, 1847, only a few hours 
after the action at Conreras hill, the entire American army 
separated in two divisions under Worth and Twiggs. 

The second action of the day was the routing of the gar- 



MEXICAN WAR. 211 

rison at San Antonio. The third and fourth were the 
simultaneous taking of the Tete du Pont, or Bridge Head, 
and the Pablo de Churubusco. The conflict lasted three 
hours. Including the casualties of Contreras the Mexican 
loss for the day was 3,250 killed and wounded, 2,627 pris- 
oners, including more than 200 officers. The Americans 
lost 16 officers and 123 men killed and 60 officers and 
816 men wounded. 

El Molino del Rey— [Sept. 8, 1847]— When the fortifi- 
cations of Contreras and Churubusco had been passed Gen- 
eral Scott took up his headquarters at Tacubaya, the Bish- 
op's castle, overlooking the western approaches to the city 
of Mexico and two and a half miles distant. The first 
formidable obstruction was El Molino del Rey (the King's 
Mill). General Worth's division of 3,100 men was de- 
tailed for attack upon this, and its supporting fortification 
Casa de Mata. These were stone buildings, strongly for- 
tified and ably defended, the Mexicans contesting every 
foot of the ground. The attack was made on the morn- 
ing of Sept. 8, 1847. 

After two hours' hard fighting, the works were carried 
and the army of Santa Anna, 14,000 strong, driven back. 
The Mexican loss was 2,200 killed and wounded (among 
the former being Generals Valdareg and Leon), and more 
than 800 prisoners, including 52 commissioned officers. 
The American loss was 116, (including 9 officers) killed; 
nnd 665, (including 49 officers) wounded, and 18 (rank and 
file) missing. The magazine of Casa de Mata was blown 
up and Worth returned to Tacubaya. 

Chapultepec— [Sept. 12, 1847]— The reduction of El 
Molino del Rey and Casa de Mata left the City of Mexico 
still protected by the formidable citadel of Chapultepec. 
This was strongly built and filled with troops, and the ap- 
proaches were guarded by mines. On the 12th of Septem- 



212 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

ber 1847, a preliminary fire was opened on the outworks 
and on the 13th a strategic assault was made and the walls 
scaled in the face of a terrible fire of the defenders. The 
American force consisted of 7,180 men. Some 25,000 of 
Santa Anna's men were distributed between Churubusco, 
and the City of Mexico and the causeways connecting 
them. Between Chapultepec and the City of Mexico prop- 
er were two causeways or elevated roads leading to the 
gates of Belen and San Cosme. These were crossed un- 
der the enemy's fire and the division of Worth and Quit- 
man entered the ancient seat of the Montezumas. 

During the fighting on the 12th, 13th and 14th of Sep- 
tember, incident to the taking of Chapultepec and the 
occupation of the city the American loss was 130 killed, 
including 10 officers; 703 wounded, including 68 officers; 
29, rank and file, missing — a total loss of 862. 

The Mexican army, strongly fortified in the vicinity of 
its capital, numbering at first some 30,000, was reduced 
by death and disability in action by 7,000 officers and men; 
by capture 3,730, one seventh of whom were officers, in- 
cluding 13 generals, three of whom had been President 
of the republic. Santa Anna, the then President, and com- 
mander in chief of the army, was a fugitive. The trophies 
included more than twenty colors and standards, 75 pieces 
of ordnance and 57 wall pieces, 20,000 small arms and an 
immense quantity of ammunition. 

Mexico City, Surrender of — [Sept. 14, 1847] — At seven 
o'clock on the morning of Sept. 14, 1847, the flag of the 
United States was hoisted on the top of the National Pal- 
ace in the City of Mexico, and the ancient halls of the 
Montezumas resounded with the stirring notes of "Yankee 
Doodle" and the martial airs of the American bands. At 
nine o'clock General Scott rode into the plaza, escorted 
by the Second United States dragoons. 



MEXICAN WAR. 213 

After a series of brilliant and decisive operations the 
hardy Anglo Saxon invaders had overcome three times 
their number of the mixed race of Spanish and Indians, 
fighting with the desperation of despair behind the strong- 
est fortifications they could devise and with the finest 
ordnance they could cast or buy. Before daylight of Sept. 
14, the City Council of Mexico waited upon General Scott 
and demanded terms of capitulation. He replied that the 
city had come into his power the night before and that 
the American army would come under no terms not self- 
imposed. 

Soon after the occupation of the city a fire was opened 
upon the American soldiers from the roofs of houses, 
from windows, and street corners by about 2,000 convicts 
who had been liberated the night before by the flying 
government. These were joined by as many soldiers who 
had disbanded themselves and assumed the garb of cit- 
izens. This firing was kept up in a desultory way for 
twenty-four hours, and many soldiers were killed or 
wounded. 

Puebla— [Sept. 25-Oct. 12, 1847]— No sooner had 
Scott's army left Puebla, to take up the march upon the 
City of Mexico than General Rea, a guerrilla Chieftain, 
moved down from his mountain fortress in the hope of 
picking off an occasional foraging party or capturing a 
supply train. Colonel Childs had been left in command of 
Puebla with 393 men, exclusive of convalescents in the 
hospital, to garrison two forts and the grand depot of San 
Jose. In the latter part of August, 1847, Captain Blan- 
chard set out from Puebla to capture a band of guerrillas 
which had stolen a herd of mules. He fell into an ambus- 
cade, and of 33 men in his party, 22, including the brave 
captain, were killed. Sept. 25, Santa Anna, with the strag- 
glers of his army, joined Rea, and demanded the surrender 



214 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

of the forts at Puebla. Childs refused and maintained his 
position in spite of an almost continuous fire of the Mexi- 
cans until relieved by reinforcements under General Lane, 
Oct 12. 

Huamantla — [Oct. 8, 1847] — To reinforce the garrisons 
of the posts between Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico, 
General Lane set out from the former place about the first 
of October 1847, with 2,000 men. Arriving at Perote he 
learned of the investment of Puebla by Santa Anna and 
Rea. Santa Anna, learning of Lane's approach, set out to 
intercept him with 4,000 men and six pieces of artillery. 
On the night of Oct. 8, 1847, the Mexicans were encamped 
in the City of Huamantla, and Captain Walker was sent 
forward with a company of cavalry to give them battle. 
Walker's cavalry fought desperately in the face of superior 
numbers until the arrival of the infantry put the Mexicans 
to flight, with a loss of 150. Captain Walker was killed in 
the fight and of his company of 75 men, only 17 were able 
to keep the saddle at the close of the engagement. 

Atlixco— [Oct. 19, 1847]— On the night of Oct. 8, im- 
mediately after the battle of Huamantla, General Lane 
pressed forward to relieve the garrison at Puebla. Oct. 
18, he learned that Rea with a body of guerrillas was at 
Atlixco, a town about ten leagues from Perote. The ene- 
my was encountered on the afternoon of the 19th outside 
of the city and driven into and through the city and dis- 
persed. The Mexican loss was very severe, no less than 
519 having been killed and wounded, while the Americans 
lost only 2 men. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 



Soon after the adoption of the federal constitution the 
question arose as to the relation of the several states to 
the general government. Many held to the theory that 
the states retained their sovereignty and that the union 
was a compact which, voluntarily made, could be broken 
at will. In accordance with this idea the legislatures of 
Virginia and Kentucky passed resolutions in 1798 setting 
forth their belief that the union was not based on the 
principle of unlimited submission to the general govern- 
ment; that the constitution was a compact to which each 
state was a party as over against its fellow states, and 
that in all cases not specified in the compact each party 
had a right to judge for itself as well of infractions as of 
the mode and measure of redress. The resolutions asked 
other states to join in declaring null and void the alien 
and sedition laws. In 1799 the Kentucky Legislature de- 
clared the nullification of a federal law by a state to be the 
rightful remedy in cases of federal usurpation. 

In 1811 and 1814 New England federalists suggested se- 
cession as a remedy for federal aggression. 

In 1832 South Carolina passed ordinances nullifying 
the federal, tariff law of that year which was extremely 
distasteful to her people. President Jackson issued a 
proclamation declaring nullification to be incompatible 
with the existence of the Union and contrary to the con- 
stitution, and asserting his intention of executing the fed- 
eral laws within the state. The nullification ordinances 
were later repealed. 

As the slavery question grew in importance the right 



216 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

of secession was again suggested as the prerogative of 
states dissatisfied with federal laws. South Carolina was 
ready to secede in 1850. The question was ably debated 
by Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Hayne and others in the 
Senate, with the effect of confirming the north and south 
in their respective opinions. Sectional differences be- 
tween the north and south had long prevailed, owing 
to the economic and social differences caused by the ex- 
istence of slavery. With the growth of the abolition senti- 
ment in the north these differences increased. The people 
of the south saw in the ascendency of the Republican 
party a menace to the extension, if not to the existence, 
of slavery. 

The election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 
1860 determined South Carolina to act. A convention 
was called, and on Dec. 20, 1860, an ordinance was passed 
repealing the act of 1788, by which the federal consti- 
tution was adopted, and reviving the independence of the 
state. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana 
and Texas took similar action, and on Feb. 4, 1861, these 
seven states formed a confederacy, of which Jefferson 
Davis was elected President. President Buchanan could 
find no constitutional grounds for preventing secession. 
Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee later 
seceded. 

When Lincoln took office he determined to suppress 
the rebellion against federal authority by armed force. 

April 12, 1861, upon the refusal of the federal garrison 
at Fort Sumter, S. C, to surrender to the confederates, 
who were in control of the state, the fort was bombarded 
by order of General P. G. T. Beauregard. The next day, 
Major Anderson lowered the flag and surrendered, and 
on the 14th was allowed to leave with his command for 
the north. There were no casualties during the bom- 



THE CIVIL WAR. 217 

bardment of Fort Sumter, but the news of actual conflict 
aroused the north to vigorous action. The day following 
the surrender of Sumter, President Lincoln issued a call 
for 75,000 volunteers, and in a very few days, large num- 
bers of militia were under arms and on their way to the 
defense of Washington. On the 19th of April, as the 
Sixth Massachusetts was passing through Baltimore on 
its way to the capital, the regiment was attacked by a 
mob and several soldiers were killed. 

The main body of the confederate army was assembled 
at Bull Run, near Manassas, Va., a few miles southwest of 
Washington, under command of Beauregard. The union 
army advanced from Washington under command of Gen- 
eral McDowell, and after a severe engagement was driven 
back to Washington in disorder. Another call was made 
for 500,000 men. 

Holding their positions in Virginia, the confederates 
erected fortifications on the Tennessee and Cumberland 
rivers and at important points on the Mississippi between 
Columbus, Ky., and its mouth. They also made efforts 
to secure the state of Missouri and to defend the Atlantic 
and Gulf ports. The federal vessels blockaded the entire 
coast line between Virginia and Texas, and sent troops 
into the doubtful states. By the end of the year 1861 the 
government had 640,000 men in the field and the confed- 
erates 210,000. 

The year. 1862 was marked by the taking of the confed- 
erate defenses on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers 
and the occupation of Nashville by union troops, the 
naval battle of the Merrimac and Monitor off Hampton 
Roads, Va., the opening of the Mississippi River as far 
south as Memphis, and the taking of New Orleans. Mean- 
while General George B. McClellan, who had succeeded 
General Irvin McDowell in command of the Army of the 



218 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Potomac, had fought his way up the peninsula between 
the James and York rivers to within five miles of Rich- 
mond and was driven back in a series of battles in which 
he lost heavily, and was compelled to retreat, while the 
union forces under Generals Banks and Pope, advanc- 
ing toward Richmond by way of the Shenandoah Valley, 
were defeated and driven back by "Stonewall" Jackson. 
In July and August, 1862, President Lincoln called for 
600,000 additional volunteers. Kentucky and Maryland 
were both invaded by confederate troops, but without se- 
curing permanent occupation. Burnside, who had suc- 
ceeded McClellan, made an unsuccessful attempt to take 
Richmond, while the Army of the Tennessee was trying 
to sever the connection between the Atlantic and Gulf 
States. 

In 1863 General Hooker took command of the Army of 
the Potomac and advanced toward Richmond, but was 
driven back by Lee, who now assumed the offensive, and 
invaded Pennsylvania, whence he retreated after having 
been defeated at Gettysburg by General Meade, who had 
succeeded Hooker in command of the Army of the Po- 
tomac. Meantime Grant had suceeded in forcing the 
surrender of Vicksburg, and as a consequence Port Hud- 
son, the only other confederate stronghold on the Mis- 
sissippi. Charleston, S. C., was besieged and the forts in 
the harbor battered down by federal gunboats. 

With the opening of the campaign of 1864 the northern 
armies began a vigorous campaign under the direction of 
General Grant, who had been made commander of all the 
northern armies. General Sherman united the armies 
of the Tennessee, the Cumberland and the Ohio at Chat- 
tanooga, making an aggregate of nearly 100,000 men and 
250 guns. Banks had some 61,000 in Louisiana. In May 
the Army of the Potomac, under command of General 



THE CIVIL WAR. 219 

Meade, made another advance upon Richmond. Sheridan 
defeated the confederates in northern Virginia and dev- 
astated the Shenandoah Valley. 

Sherman in the mean time marched his army across 
Georgia, taking Atlanta and Savannah on his way, thus 
opening federal communication between the interior 
and the seacoast on the southeast. He then proceeded 
northward across the Carolinas to join Grant before Rich- 
mond. Columbia, S. C, was occupied and Charleston 
evacuated and burned. Grant moved resolutely forward 
in spite of terrible losses, and by the beginning of 1865 
had the confederate capital half surrounded. Finally, 
on the 29th of March, 1865, a series of assaults was begun 
on Lee's army, and after ten days of almost continuous 
fighting, the confederates, worn down with fatigue, and 
short of ammunition, evacuated Richmond and Peters- 
burg, and on April 9, Lee surrendered his army of 28,000 
men at Appomattox, Va. On the 12th Mobile surren- 
dered, and a few days later General Johnston. 

The total number of men called upon for military service 
by the federal government during the war was 2,759,049. 
The number actually furnished fell more than 100,000 
short of this number. There are no complete records of 
the confederate armies. Their conscription laws are said 
to have "robbed the cradle and the grave" to furnish 
men for defense of the cause. The number of enlistments, 
based upon incomplete records and statistics of popula- 
tion, are variously estimated at from 700,000 to 1,700,000. 
The result of the war was the abolition of slavery and 
the establishment of the principle of perpetual union of 
the states. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Fort Sumter Fired On— [April 12, 1861]— At 3:30 
o'clock on the morning of April 12, 1861, General Beaure- 
gard, in command of the confederate troops in Charles- 
ton, S. C, demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter in 
Charleston Harbor, about three and one-half miles from 
the city. The fort was garrisoned by Major Robert An- 
derson with 70 men. Beauregard had a force of 
7,000 men in and around Charleston. Anderson refused 
to surrender, and at 4:30 the bombardment was begun. 
The firing was kept up until dark, and renewed the morn- 
ing of the 13th. Buildings in the fort were several times 
set afire. Anderson was only able to return a feeble fire, 
and it was impossible to furnish him with the number of 
reinforcements necessary to hold the fort. Accordingly 
on April 14, 1861, he evacuated the works, lowering the 
flag with a salute; and with the garrison sailed north. 
This was the first conflict of the civil war. There were 
no casualties on either side. 

Big Bethel, Va.— [June 10, 1861]— One of the prelim- 
inary skirmishes of the civil war. In June, 1861, Major 
General B. F. Butler of Massachusetts was placed in com- 
mand of the federal forces in Virginia. He established 
headquarters at Fortress Monroe, and, volunteers con- 
tinually coming in, he soon found himself in command of 
10,000 men. June 9, Butler sent Brigadier General E. W. 
Pierce with a detachment of 3,500 men (composed of 
New York, Massachusetts and Vermont infantry and a 
battery of artillery) to dislodge the confederates at Big 
and Little Bethel under J. B. Magruder. Magruder's 



THE CIVIL WAR. 221 

command had been the headquarters of frequent raids 
upon the federal lines. His force consisted of 1,400 men. 
The attack was made by the union forces on the morning 
of June 10. It was the intention to surprise the enemy, 
but this failed, and the attack was repulsed. The union 
loss was 18 killed, 53 wounded and 5 missing, an aggre- 
gate of 76. Among the killed was Major Theodore 
Winthrop, author of "Cecil Dreeme," "John Brent," etc. 
The confederate loss was reported as 1 killed and 7 
wounded. 

Boonville, Mo.— [June 17, 1861] — During the struggle 
for supremacy between the unionist and secession fac- 
tions in Missouri, in the spring of 1861, Frank Blair, in 
anticipation of the impending conflict, organized five regi- 
ments and placed them under the military direction of 
Captain Nathaniel Lyon. When Governor Jackson re- 
fused to furnish the quota of troops asked of Missouri 
under President Lincoln's call of April 15, Blair sent word 
to the President, that if the order to muster men into 
service were sent to Captain Lyon it would be executed. 
The quota asked of the state was four regiments, but 
Lyon mustered in five at once. Lyon was made a Briga- 
dier-General. May 8, another brigade was organized, 
and General Harney, who commanded the department, 
being suspected of disloyalty, was relieved of his com- 
mand, and Lyon succeeded him. 

Governor Jackson ordered the state militia into camp 
in the outskirts of St. Louis May 1, and about 700 pitched 
their tents at Camp Jackson. May 10, Lyon surrounded 
the camp, and upon its surrender by General Frost the 
men were paroled. June 15, Lyon took possession of 
Jefferson City, and the Governor and state officers fled to 
Boonville. Lyon followed, and June 17 dispersed the 
army they had been gathering. In the action Lyon lost 



222 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

21 men — 2 killed and 19 wounded. Of the state troops 15 
were killed and 20 wounded. 

Carthage, Mo. — [July 5, 1861] — After Governor Jack- 
son and his followers had been driven from Boonville by 
General Lyon, they pushed westward into Jasper County, 
being joined on the way by General Sterling Price, aug- 
menting the confederate forces to 3,600. July 5, 1861, 
they were confronted near Carthage by General Franz 
Sigel, with a force of 1,500 men, who had been sent to the 
southwestern part of the state to prevent reinforcements 
from Arkansas and Texas. Sigel, though strong in ar- 
tillery, was inferior in numbers, and after inflicting con- 
siderable loss on the enemy, retreated in good order 
through Carthage to Sarcoxie, fifteen miles to the east- 
ward. Sigel's loss was 13 killed and 31 wounded. The 
confederates reported their loss at 40 to 50 killed and 125 
to 150 wounded. 

Rich Mountain, W. Va. — [July 11, 1861] — As soon as 
the ordinance of secession had been ratified by the state 
of Virginia, Major-General George B. McClellan, who 
had been assigned to the command of the federal forces 
in the Department of the Ohio, issued an address to the 
loyal citizens of western Virginia, which resulted in many 
enlistments from that state, and determined him to occupy 
at least a part of it with federal troops. Accordingly 
May 23, 1861, the First Virginia regiment, 1,100 strong, 
which had been organized in Cincinnati by Virginians, 
crossed the Ohio with the Fourteenth and Sixteenth Ohio 
regiments, and took possession of Parkersburg. The con- 
federates, commanded by Governor Wise and under the 
immediate direction of Colonel Porterfield, retired after 
several skirmishes to the base of Rich Mountain, near 
Beverly, in Randolph County. McClellan's forces in the 
neighborhood amounted to more than 30,000 men on 



THE CIVIL WAR. 223 

July 4, while the confederates could scarcely muster 
10,000. July 11, General Rosecranz made a detour of the 
mountain and forced the surrender of 600 men under 
Colonel Pegram, and the next day General McClellan 
routed the main body of the confederates under General 
Garnett, thus for a time annihilating the opposition to 
federal law in western Virginia. The union losses in the 
actions at Rich Mountain were 12 killed and 49 wounded. 
The loss to the confederates was 60 killed, 140 wounded 
and 100 made prisoners. Seven pieces of artillery also fell 
into the hands of the union soldiers. 

Bull Run, Va.— [July 21, 1861]— For the double pur- 
pose of menacing Washington and preventing an advance 
of the federal troops into Virginia, the confederates, dur- 
ing the summer of 1861, collected a large body of troops 
in the vicinity of Manassas Junction, Va., thirty-three 
miles southwest of Washington, at the crossing of several 
lines of railroad and naturally protected by surrounding 
mountains. The troops here assembled numbered about 
32,000, under command of General Beauregard. The ag- 
gregate force of union soldiers in and around Washing- 
ton was 34,160 men. Both armies were composed mostly 
of undisciplined militia. 

The public, regardless of the fact that time and hard 
work are necessary to organize, drill and season an army, 
were impatient at the inactivity of the troops, and clam- 
ored loudly, for offensive movements. Accordingly, on 
the 16th of July, 1861, McDowell began a general forward 
movement. Lieutenant-General Scott advised postpone- 
ment until the forces should be better prepared for service, 
but his warning was disregarded. The federal army was 
divided into five divisions. Leaving 5,700 men under 
Brigadier-General Runyon, to guard the approaches to 
Washington, the other four divisions, aggregating 28,500 



224 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

men, under Brigadier-Generals Tyler, Hunter, Heintzel- 
man and Miles, advanced to Bull Run, a tributary of the 
Potomac River about thirty miles from Washington, on 
the way to Manassas Junction. Hunter's and Heintzel- 
man's divisions crossed the Run and attacked the con- 
federate left, slowly forcing it back. Beauregard's army, 
when the action began, consisted of 24,000 available men. 
He was reinforced at intervals during the day by the 
8,000 men under Johnston, who had been encamped in 
the Shenandoah Valley, and whose junction with the main 
army it was thought would be prevented by General Pat- 
terson, who was stationed at Martinsburg with 18,000 men. 

It was the arrival of these reinforcements that saved the 
day for the confederates. Between three and four o'clock 
in the afternoon, when everything seemed favorable to 
the federals, the last 3,000 of Johnston's men under Gen- 
eral Kirby Smith arrived and fell upon the exhausted 
unionists, forcing a retreat. This attack was followed by 
another by Early's brigade, and the federal retreat became 
a rout. Men threw away their arms and equipments, 
artillery horses were cut from their traces and guns were 
abandoned on the road. Soldiers, civilians and camp fol- 
lowers fled, panic-stricken, toward Washington, afoot, 
astride and in carriages. The confederates were too ex- 
hausted for pursuit, and the fugitives reached Washing- 
ton July 23. The casualties of the battle were: Fed- 
eral losses — Killed, 470; wounded, 1,071; missing, 1,793; 
total, 3,334. Confederate losses — Killed, 387; wounded, 
1,582; missing, 13; total, 1,982. 

Wilson's Creek, Mo. — [August 10, 1861] — During the 
summer of 1861 confederate troops in large numbers 
were sent into Missouri from Arkansas, Louisiana and 
Texas. General Lyon was stationed at Springfield with 
5,500 federal troops. The result of the battle of Bull Run 




w 
w 

u 
O 



THE CIVIL WAR. 225 

having rendered reinforcements unlikely, he determined 
to strike his antagonist before the disparity in numbers 
became much greater. The enemy already had more than 
12,000 men advancing in two columns under Sterling 
Price. During the night of August 9, 1861, Sigel was 
sent with 1,500 men to attack the confederate rear, nine 
miles distant at Wilson's Creek, while Lyon attacked the 
front. Both attacks were repulsed. Sigel lost five of his 
six guns, and more than half his men. Lyon was killed 
while leading a charge. The news of Sigel's defeat 
reached his successor, and retreat to Springfield was or- 
dered. The federal loss was 223 killed, 721 wounded and 
292 missing. The confederate loss was 265 killed, 800 
wounded and 30 missing. The union forces were not 
pursued in their retreat toward Springfield. 

Hatteras Expedition— [August 29, 1861] — August 26, 
1861, an expedition against Forts Hatteras and Clark was 
sent out from Fortress Monroe under Commodore String- 
ham and General Butler. The naval force consisted of 
the Minnesota, and four other naval vessels and trans- 
ports, and the land force of about 900 men. Fort Clark 
was occupied without serious opposition. On the morn- 
ing of the 29th bombardment of Fort Hatteras was be- 
gun, and at eleven o'clock the white flag was run up. 
Butler occupied the works with his land forces. Of the 
confederates 5 men were killed and 51 wounded. Captain 
Barron and 715 prisoners were sent north on the flagship 
Minnesota. The loss to the union forces was 1 man killed 
and 2 wounded. Twenty-five pieces of artillery, 1,000 
stand of arms, and a large quantity of ordnance, stores, 
provisions, etc., fell into the hands of the victors. 

Carnifex Ferry, Va.— [Sept. 10, 1861]— July 22, 1861, 
McClellan was placed in command of the Army of the 
Potomac, and Brigadier-General Rosecranz succeeded 



226 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

him in command of the Department of the Ohio. Robert 
E. Lee commanded the confederate forces in western 
Virginia, with headquarters at Huntersville. General 
J. B. Floyd took up a position at Carnifex Ferry on the 
Gauley River, eight miles south of Nicholas in Nicholas 
County, Va., with 2,000 men, with the intention of cutting 
off Cox's brigade from Rosecranz's army. Sept. 10, he 
was attacked in this position by Rosecranz with 10,000 
men. Darkness terminated a sharp engagement, and the 
next morning Floyd was in the mountains thirty miles 
away. The federal loss was some 17 killed and 141 
wounded. Among the former was Colonel Lowe of the 
Twelfth Ohio, who fell at the head of his regiment. 

Lexington, Mo.— [Sept. 12-20, 1861]— Sept. 1, 1861, 
Colonel Mulligan, in command of the "Irish Brigade," 
stationed at Jefferson City, Mo., was ordered by General 
Fremont, who had recently been appointed to the com- 
mand of the Western Department, to proceed up the Mis- 
souri River to Lexington, Mo., 160 miles to the north- 
west, and reinforce the garrison already there. Mulligan's 
brigade reached Lexington Sept. 9, swelling the force to 
2,780 men. After the battle of Wilson's Creek the con- 
federate general, Price, marched toward the northern 
part of the state with a constantly increasing force. He 
arrived in the vicinity of Lexington Sept. 11, with 28,000 
men and thirteen pieces of artillery. Mulligan's small 
force was well entrenched and was constantly expecting 
reinforcements from St. Louis. Several unsuccessful ef- 
forts were made to dislodge them. The garrison suf- 
fered terribly from thirst, and many of the horses and 
cattle perished. 

On the 20th Price advanced his artillery behind the 
shelter of bales of hemp which the men rolled slowly be- 
fore them as they approached Mulligan's redoubt. When 



THE CIVIL WAR. 227 

this hempen breastwork was within fifty yards of his lines, 
no reinforcements having arrived and all hope of escape 
being cut off, Mulligan surrendered unconditionally, after 
a loss of 42 killed and 108 wounded. Twenty six hundred 
men, including 500 home-guards, laid down their arms. 
The confederates lost 25 killed and 75 wounded. Colonel 
Mulligan was twice wounded. 

Santa Rosa Island— [Oct. 9, 1861]— A force of 1,500 or 
2,000 confederates near Fort Pickens landed on Santa 
Rosa Island Oct. 9, 1861, and surprised the camp of Wil- 
son's Zouaves about a mile from the fort. Major Vogdes 
was sent to the relief of the camp with two companies. 
He was captured, but the assailants fled to their boats un- 
der the heavy fire of the regulars after setting fire to the 
camp. When the boats shoved off, the deadly volleys 
plunging into the closely packed masses, struck them 
down by dozens. The federal loss was 14 killed and 29 
wounded. The confederate loss was 20 killed, 35 wound- 
ed and 295 captured or missing, a total of 350. 

Ball's Bluff, Va.— [Oct. 21, 1861]— In October, 1861, 
General McClellan directed Brigadier-General Charles P. 
Stone to make a demonstration toward Leesburg, Va. 
Stone ordered Col. Devens of the Fifteenth Massachusetts 
to cross the Potomac near Ball's Bluff, and attack and 
destroy any confederate camps found, or to report and 
wait for reinforcements. Devens advanced to Leesburg, 
and encountering opposition, fell back to the place of 
crossing, and was attacked there by the confederates 
Oct. 21. Colonel Baker, arriving with a California regi- 
ment and the Tammany Regiment of New York, assumed 
command. The union forces now numbered 1,900. 

At five o'clock P. M. Colonel Baker was killed and the 
federals gave way. No means of retreat had been pro- 
vided, and hundreds of the retreating army were drowned 



228 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

while swimming the river in search of safety on the other 
shore. The number of federals lost was 921, 49 being 
killed and 158 wounded, and 714 captured or drowned. 
The confederates lost only 155, 36 of whom were killed 
and 117 wounded. General Stone was arrested and kept 
in confinement from Feb. 9 till August 16, 1862. No case 
against him having been prepared, he was released. It 
is generally believed that General Stone was the victim 
of prejudice or a mistake. 

Port Royal Expedition— [Nov. 7, 1861]— Oct. 29, 1861, 
a strong naval and military expedition left Hampton 
Roads under command of Commodore Samuel F. Dupont 
and General Thomas West Sherman. The fleet was com- 
posed of the steam frigate Wabash, fourteen gunboats, 
twenty-two first-class and twelve smaller steamers, with 
twenty-six sailing vessels. The land forces under Sher- 
man consisted of thirteen regiments of volunteers form- 
ing three brigades and numbering 10,000 men. After a 
tempestuous voyage the fleet arrived off Port Royal, S. C., 
Nov. 3. On the 7th Dupont brought his gunboats into 
action. 

On each side of the mouth of the Broad River is an 
island, on both of which the confederates had built forts. 
On Bay Point, Fort Beauregard mounted twenty-three 
guns, and on Hilton Head opposite, Fort Walker had six, 
some of them of the largest calibre. A fleet of eight 
steamers lay inside the harbor. The guns of the forts 
were fully manned by 1,700 South Carolinians, and a field 
battery with 500 men supported one of them. Dupont 
manoeuvred his fleet in a circle around the harbor be- 
tween the forts, firing broadsides as he passed the con- 
federate batteries. His shells wrought havoc in the works, 
but the moving ships were little hurt. Four hours the 
battle raged, when the garrisons fled leaving everything 



THE CIVIL WAR. 229 

behind, and the union flag was hoisted on the ramparts. 
The casualties were : Federals — 8 killed, 23 wounded. 
Confederates — 11 killed and 39 wounded. Forty-three 
guns were captured, and Hilton Head was made the 
centre of future naval operations. 

Belmont, Mo. — [Nov. 7, 1861] — General Fremont was 
much blamed for the disaster to Mulligan's command at 
Lexington, Mo., in September, 1861, and on the day after 
McClellan's promotion to the chief command of the army 
under the President, Fremont was removed and his de- 
partment subdivided into three — that of New Mexico 
under Colonel Canby, Kansas under General Hunter and 
Missouri under General Halleck. 

By Nov. 1, General Ulysses S. Grant, who had been in 
command of posts in eastern Missouri and southern Illi- 
nois under Fremont, had a force of 20,000 at Cairo. A 
large confederate force under General Polk held Co- 
lumbus, Ky., on the east bank of the Mississippi River. 
This position commanded the navigation of the river and 
was eventually made very strong, being defended by more 
than 120 heavy guns. On the Missouri bank, opposite 
Columbus, the confederates had established a camp at 
Belmont. Grant learned that reinforcements were to be 
sent by way of this camp in November, to join Prince. 
He thereupon left Cairo, and sending a force to occupy 
Paducah, Ky., conveyed 3,000 men down the river in 
transports, accompanied by gunboats, to attack Belmont. 
The battle was fought Nov. 7, 1861, and was a severe 
one. The federal attacking forces numbered 2,500 men, 
and the confederates under General Pillow numbered 
about 7,000, including reinforcements sent from Colum- 
bus during the action. Few of the men had been under 
fire before. Grant's men took the camp, but were com- 
pelled to abandon it and return to their transports. The 



230 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

federal loss was 80 killed, 322 wounded and 99 missing, 
a total of 501. The confederates lost 641, 105 of whom 
were killed and 419 wounded. The union forces took 
175 prisoners and two cannon. 

Middle Creek, Ky.— [Jan. 10, 1862]— Jan. 9, 1862, 
Colonel James A. Garfield broke up his camp at Muddy 
Creek, Ky., and advanced with 1,800 men to attack Gen- 
eral Humphrey Marshall, who had some 2,500 troops in 
Johnston County. Humphrey, being advised of Garfield's 
approach, took up a position on the heights of Middle 
Creek, about two miles from Prestonburg. When he had 
determined the confederate position, on the morning of 
the 10th, Garfield began the attack. The battle lasted 
all day, and, on the arrival of reinforcements in the even- 
ing, Marshall retired from the field and burned his stores 
to prevent their falling into federal hands. Seventy-five 
of the enemy's dead were picked up on the field. The 
union loss was 2 killed and 25 wounded. 

Mill Spring, Ky.— [Jan. 19, 1862]— Early in the winter 
of 1861-62, the confederate general Zollicoffer, with a 
force of about 5,000 men, entrenched himself at Mill 
Spring, on the Cumberland River, in Wayne County, Ky. 
Jan. 17, 1862, General George H. Thomas, with 8,000 
union troops, advanced to dislodge him. General Critten- 
den set out to meet Thomas, and on Jan. 19, 1862, an en- 
gagement took place, begun by the advance guard of 
both armies. A feature of the battle was a gallant charge 
made by the Ninth Ohio and Second Minnesota, under 
Colonel McCook. The confederates were driven back to 
their camp, which they abandoned during the night with 
twelve pieces of artillery, 156 wagons, 1,000 horses and 
mules, as well as large quantities of arms, ammunition 
and stores. Crossing the Cumberland River, the fleeing 
army burned their boats to prevent pursuit. The loss on 



THE CIVIL WAR. 231 

the confederate side was 125 killed, 309 wounded and 95 
made prisoners. The unionists lost 39 killed and 207 
wounded. General Zollicofrer was among the confederate 
dead. 

Fort Henry, Term.— [Feb. 6, 1862]— Jan. 27, 1862, 
President Lincoln issued orders for a general forward 
movement to be made by all the federal armies on or 
before the 22d of the succeeding February. The main 
line of confederate defense in the west extended from 
Columbus, Ky., on the Mississippi River, to the Cum- 
berland Mountains in eastern Tennessee, and was de- 
fended by about 60,000 men. On this line of defense were 
Forts Henry and Donelson, in the northern part of Ten- 
nessee; the former on the east bank of the Tennessee 
River and the latter on the west bank of the Cumberland, 
about 12 miles apart. 

General Halleck, commander of the Department of 
Missouri, determined to attack Fort Henry, which was 
near the centre of the line. Jan. 30, an expedition was 
sent out from Cairo. It consisted of seven gunboats, 
four of them iron clad, under command of Commodore 
Foote. They carried a land force of 17,000 men com- 
manded by General Grant. On the night of Feb. 5, the 
infantry were landed four miles from the fort and the 
gunboats anchored abreast till the next morning, when 
they began to advance, about ten o'clock. Fort Henry 
mounted seventeen guns, and was garrisoned by 2,734 
men under command of General Tilghman. The attack 
was to have been made by the gunboats and seconded 
by the land forces. Foote began the attack ahead of the 
appointed time, and Grant was delayed on his march by 
muddy roads and swollen streams. Tilghman answered 
the belching gunboats for an hour and twenty minutes, 
and then surrendered unconditionally, a part of his gar- 



232 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

rison having already escaped to Fort Donelson. Grant 
arrived half an hour after the battle, and the fort was 
turned over to him. The garrison that surrendered con- 
sisted of about 65 able-bodied men and 60 invalids. 
Tilghman's loss was 5 killed and 11 wounded. The fed- 
eral loss was 10 killed and 30 wounded. 

Roanoke Island, N. C, Expedition to— [Feb. 7, 1862] 
— Butler's Hatteras expedition of August 26, 1861, had 
opened Pamlico Sound, and the confederates had retired 
to Roanoke Island, which lies behind the long bar of sand 
that separates upper North Carolina from the Atlantic 
Ocean, and between Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. This 
island was the key to all the rear defenses of Norfolk. 
It guarded two sounds, eight rivers, four canals and two 
railroads. Four-fifths of the supplies for Norfolk passed 
its guns. It was defended by General Wise with 3,000 
men. Its defenses consisted of three earthwork fortifi- 
cations situated at Pork Point, Weir's Point, and Fort 
Blanchard on the west side of the island. These mount- 
ed four batteries of twenty-two guns. Sunken vessels 
and driven piles obstructed the channel, and eight steam- 
ers supported the land batteries. There were also other 
works toward the centre and east of the island. Red- 
stone Point, on the west side of Croatan Channel, was 
also fortified. 

Jan. 7, 1862, General Burnside was ordered to unite 
with Flag Officer Goldsborough, in command of the fleet 
at Fortress Monroe ; capture Newbern, reduce Fort Ma- 
con and seize the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. 
Goldsborough's fleet consisted of thirty-one steam gun- 
boats, some of them carrying heavy guns; 11,500 men con- 
veyed in forty-seven transports, and a fleet of small vessels 
carrying sixty days' supplies. On the night of Jan. 11, 
the expedition arrived off Hatteras and encountered a 



THE CIVIL WAR. 233 

terrific storm. The commander then found that through 
the misrepresentation of contractors and the negligence 
of the government, many of his vessels were of too great 
a draught to permit of their crossing the bar through the 
inlet. Several transports were lost, and the City of New 
York, with her cargo worth a quarter of a million, went 
to pieces. 

By February 7, the remainder of the expedition had 
crossed the bar and proceeded up Croatan Channel. The 
confederate fleet was driven up the channel, their flag- 
ship, the Curlew, set afire by a shell, and Burnside landed 
10,000 men on Roanoke Island. Wise's garrison was cap- 
tured, and the fleet pursued to Elizabeth City and de- 
stroyed. Burnside lost 250 men. A son of General Wise 
was among the confederates killed. 

Fort Donelson, Tenn., Capture of— [Feb. 14-16, 1862] 
— After the taking of Fort Henry, the next logical move 
against the confederate line of defense in the west was 
the reduction of Fort Donelson. This was a large field 
work of 100 acres on a bluff 100 feet high near the town 
of Dover, Tenn., on the Cumberland River. It mounted 
sixty-five guns, and was garrisoned by 21,000 men under 
General Floyd. Feb. 12, 1862, Grant, with 15,000 men, 
moved upon the works by way of the roads leading from 
Fort Henry. While Grant was placing his forces in posi- 
tion, Foote arrived in the river opposite the fort, with a 
fleet of six gunboats, four of them iron clad. On the 14th 
he opened fire. In a desperate attack two of the vessels 
were disabled, and the others withdrew after a loss of 54 
men — 10 killed and 44 wounded. The guns on the bluff 
were too high to be silenced from the water level. On 
the day of the unsuccessful attack by the gunboats, Gen- 
eral Wallace arrived with reinforcements swelling Grant's 
command to 27,000. On the 15th Floyd made an attempt 



234 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

to force his way through the surrounding federal lines. 
Fighting continued all day during most intensely cold 
weather. When night fell upon Donelson the confederates 
retired to their works. During the night Floyd surren- 
dered the command to Pillow, and he to Buckner. The 
two former fled by way of the river during the night, 
and next morning Buckner surrendered the fort uncon- 
ditionally to Grant. Sixty-five guns, 17,600 small arms 
and 14,623 prisoners fell into the hands of the victors. 
Grant's losses were 478 killed, 2,108 wounded and 224 
missing, a total of 2,810. The confederates lost 466 killed, 
1,534 wounded and 13,829 missing, a total of 15,829. 

Pea Ridge, Ark. Called by the confederates "Battle of 
Elk Horn"— [March 7-8, 1862]— In December, 1861, 
General Samuel R. Curtis took command of the 12,000 
federal troops at Rolla, Mo., and advanced against Price, 
who retreated before him into Arkansas. Price was joined 
by General McCulloch, and in January General Earl Van 
Dorn assumed command of the combined forces variously 
estimated at from 14,000 to 30,000, including some 5,000 
Cherokee Indians recruited for the service by Albert Pike. 
Curtis had about 10,000 men in line, and forty-eight pieces 
of artillery. March 7, 1862, Van Dorn attacked Curtis 
in his position on Pea Ridge, a line of bluffs along Sugar 
Creek, in Benton County, Ark. Skilful manipulation of 
the artillery in Sigel's division did much toward determin 
ing the result. Fighting continued all day, and during the 
night both armies changed positions. The battle was re- 
newed at sunrise on the 8th, and after two hours Van 
Dorn's forces retreated in disorder. The confederate gen- 
erals, McCulloch and Mcintosh were killed, Price and 
Slack were wounded. No general report of their losses 
was made. The Union army lost 203 killed, 980 wounded 
and 201 missing, a total of 1,384. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 235 

Hampton Roads, Va.— [March 9, 1862]— One of 
the most celebrated maritime conflicts known to history. 
Detailed descriptions of the battle read more like gauzy- 
films of fiction than real records of historical facts. Aside 
from the dramatic interest that surrounds the battle of 
Hampton Roads, it is important from the fact that it 
marks the transition from the old to the new style of naval 
warfare; the passing of the ancient wooden frigate and the 
advent of the modern navy. When the Navy Yard at 
Norfolk was seized by the state of Virginia in April, 1861, 
they found the steam frigate Merrimac (forty guns) scut- 
tled and sunk. She was later raised and her deck covered 
with a slanting roof made of three layers of iron, each an 
inch and a quarter thick. This armature extended two 
feet below the water line, and rose ten feet above. The 
bow was provided with a ram for piercing other hulls. 
Her armature consisted of eight 11-inch guns, four 
on each side, and a one-hundred pound rifled Armstrong 
gun at each end. About noon March 8, 1862, she came 
down the Elizabeth River under command of Franklin 
Buchanan, who had been in the United States Navy before 
the breaking out of the war. 

The sloop of war Cumberland, twenty-four guns and 
376 men, stood athwart her course and opened fire. The 
shot of the Cumberland from thirteen 9 and 10-inch 
guns struck the on-coming monster and glanced from her 
armature "like so many peas". Advancing with all her 
speed in the face of six or eight broadsides, the massive 
hulk of iron rammed her prow into the Cumberland just 
forward of the main chains, and instantly opened fire 
from every gun that could be brought to bear. The frigate 
sank in fifty-four feet of water, her flag flying and guns fir- 
ing as she went down, taking with her 100 dead, sick and 
wounded of the crew. The Merrimac then turned her at- 



236 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

tention to the Congress. One shot killed seventeen men 
at one of the latter's guns. When the flag of surrender 
was run up only 218 survived of a crew of 434 men. At 
seven o'clock in the evening the Merrimac retired behind 
Sewall's Point, leaving the Minnesota for the next day's 
prey. 

In the morning (Sunday, March 9) she approached 
the Minnesota, which had grounded on a bar. Before get- 
ting near enough to deliver a shot the strange looking 
Monitor stood across her path. Disdaining so insignif- 
icant an obstruction she proceeded and sent a shell toward 
the Minnesota. The answer was two shots from the 
eleven-inch guns in the revolving cheese-box, which the 
turret of the Monitor resembled. The effect of these was 
to attract the undivided attention of the Merrimac. Ris- 
ing only ten feet out of the water it was not a tempting 
mark, and the shot that did strike the box or the "plank" 
on which it floated glanced off harmlessly. For the most 
part the shot flew over the low deck, missing their aim. 
Five times the Merrimac tried to run down the Monitor, 
and at each attempt received the fire of her eleven-inch 
guns at close quarters. After having been twice aground, 
and receiving two broadsides from the Minnesota, the 
Merrimac withdrew pursued by the Monitor. On board 
the Merrimac two men were killed and nineteen wounded. 
Captain Worden was injured aboard the Monitor. During 
the engagement 261 federal soldiers were killed, and 108 
were wounded, and of the confederates 7 were killed and 
1Y wounded. 

Newbern, N. C. — [March 14, 1862] — After securing 
Roanoke Island, Burnside proceeded to the execution of 
another clause of his orders by advancing upon Newbern. 
March 14, 1862, he landed a force of men on the banks 
of the Neuse River, eighteen miles below the city. They 



THE CIVIL WAR. 237 

advanced to within five miles of the city, where they en- 
countered a redoubt which was taken by assault. The 
bridge over the Trent, a tributary of the Neuse, was 
burned by the confederates in their flight toward the town, 
and the city itself had been set afire in several places by the 
time the federal troops arrived. With the capture of New- 
bern, forty-six heavy guns, three batteries of light artil- 
lery, and a large amount of stores fell into Burnside's 
hands. The federal loss was 90 killed and 380 wounded. 
The confederate, 64 killed, 101 wounded and 413 missing. 

Kernstown or Winchester, Va. — [March 23, 1862] — 
Stonewall Jackson was made a Major-General soon after 
the battle of Bull Run, and placed in command of the Val- 
ley division of the confederate army of northern 
Virginia. March 23, 1862, with 5,000 men, he occupied 
Kernstown, a village four miles south of Winchester. At 
the latter place General Shields of the federal army, was 
stationed with 8,000 men. Johnston had previously with- 
drawn from Manassas and McClellan had occupied the 
peninsula with 100,000. Upon Jackson's arrival at Kerns- 
town he was promptly attacked by Shields. A severe en- 
gagement of several hours ensued, terminating about dark 
with the retreat of Jackson. The federal losses in the en- 
gagement were 118 killed, 450 wounded and 22 missing, 
a total of 590. The confederates lost 80 killed, 375 wound- 
ed and 263 missing, a total of 718. 

Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.— [April 6, 1862]— 
One of the most fiercely contested battles of the civil war. 
After the first line of confederate defenses in the west had 
been broken by Grant, General Beauregard was sent to 
establish another. He selected the line of the Memphis 
& Charleston Railroad. The Southern Army to the num- 
ber of 45,000 was concentrated at Corinth, Miss., under 
command of Albert Sidney Johnston. Polk, Bragg, Har- 



238 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

dee and Breckinridge were there with their corps, and 
Van Dorn and Price were on the way from Arkansas with 
30,000 more. 

After taking Fort Donelson the federal army under Grant 
proceeded up the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, 
a point 219 miles from its mouth, on the west bank, 
and near the intersection of the state lines of Alabama, 
Mississippi and Tennessee, and about twenty miles from 
the confederate camp at Corinth. Five divisions of Grant's 
army under Generals W. T. Sherman, Hurlbut, W. H. L. 
Wallace, McClernand and Prentiss were here encamped, 
and, including General Lewis Wallace's division, about 
seven miles down the river, numbered 40,000 men. Buell's 
army of 40,000, was expected to reinforce them here, and 
it was the intention, upon his arrival, to proceed against 
Johnston at Corinth. The latter, however, without wait- 
ing for his own reinforcements, resolved to attack Grant 
before the arrival of Buell's forces. April 3, 1862, John- 
ston marched his army from Corinth, and on the 6th at- 
tacked the federal army, and after a hard day's fighting 
drove them back from the vicinity of Shiloh Church near- 
ly to the river, a distance of three miles. A part of the ex- 
pected reinforcements arrived just in time to help repulse 
the last charge of the almost victorious confederates. 

The battle was reopened on the morning of the 7th by 
Buell, who had arrived during the night with 20,000 men. 
The second day's fighting was as stubborn as the first had 
been, but the confederates were outnumbered. At 2 
P. M. Beauregard ordered preparations made for the re- 
treat, and by 4 o'clock was under way. He was not 
pursued. The casualties were: Confederates — Killed, 
1,728; wounded, 8,012; prisoners, 956; total, 10,699. Fed- 
erals — Killed, 1,735; wounded, 7,882; prisoners, 3,956; 
total, 13,573. Johnston was among the killed. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 239 

New Madrid, Mo. — [March 13, 1862] — On the surrender 
of Fort Donelson to Grant the confederates abandoned Co- 
lumbus, on the Mississippi, and fell back to New Madrid, 
Mo., about eighty miles below Cairo. It was defended by- 
Fort Thompson and several batteries, and by six gun- 
boats mounting heavy guns, under Commodore Hollins. 
March 4, 1862, General Pope appeared before New Madrid 
with an army of 20,000 which he had been commanding 
in Eastern Missouri. On the 13th, having received heavy 
guns from Cairo, he gave the place a severe cannonading, 
disabling several of the gunboats. General McCown, 
unable to hold the place, removed his garrison during the 
night, and in the midst of a thunder-storm, to Island No. 
10. Pope lost 51 men killed and wounded. The confed- 
erate loss is not known. 

Island No. 10— [April 8, 1862]— About the time of 
the capture of New Madrid, Mo., Commodore Foote sailed 
from Cairo with a fleet of seven iron-clad gunboats, one 
wooden gun-boat, and ten mortar boats, to assist Pope in 
his attack on Island No. 10. This Island, though about ten 
miles south of New Madrid, was really that distance up 
the stream, owing to a bend in the river, so it was necessary 
for vessels to pass the island before arriving at the town. It 
was defended by 123 heavy guns and thirty-five pieces 
of field artillery, and 7,000 men. March 16, 1862, Foote 
began a bombardment, which he kept up several weeks 
without effect. Pope, in the meantime, had dug a canal 
across the swampy land above New Madrid, so that ves- 
sels could pass through to that place without passing the 
island under cover of night, and on April 7, the confeder- 
ates found themselves surrounded by gun-boats and trans- 
ports laden with troops. Nothing remained but to sur- 
render. Three generals, 273 field and company officers, 
6,700 privates, the artillery (all of the latest pattern), 7,000 



240 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

small arms, tents for 12,000 men, immense quantities of 
provisions and ammunition, hundreds of horses, mules, 
wagons, harness, etc., were among the spoils. There were 
no casualties in the federal army. Of the confederates 
7 men were killed and 10 wounded. 

New Orleans, Capture of— [April 18-24, 1862]— Feb. 20, 
1862, Commodore Farragut, with his flagship, the sloop- 
of-war Hartford, arrived at Ship Island, 100 miles north 
northeast of the mouths of the Mississippi. He was in 
command of the Western Coast Blockading Squadron, 
with directions to take possession of New Orleans. A 
military force to co-operate with Farragut arrived at Ship 
Island March 25 under General B. F. Butler. 

The defenses of New Orleans were Fort Jackson on the 
right bank or south side of the river, near its last bend be- 
fore it separates into the delta, and Fort St. Philip, a little 
further up stream on the opposite side. The former, with 
its water battery, mounted seventy-five guns; the latter, 
forty. Just above the forts was a fleet of fifteen vessels, 
including the iron-clad ram Manassas and an immense 
floating battery covered with railroad iron, called the 
Louisiana. These were in command of J. K. Mitchell. A 
heavy chain was also stretched across the river below Fort 
Jackson. Farragut's fleet consisted of six sloops-of-war, 
sixteen gunboats, twenty-one schooners, each carrying a 
thirteen-inch mortar, and five other vessels. The fleet 
carried more than 200 guns. Farragut bombarded the 
forts for six days, with his mortar boats, without much 
effect. The confederate loss was 14 killed and 39 wounded. 

It was then decided to run by the forts. The obstruc- 
tions were opened in the face of a heavy fire, and the fleet 
formed in three divisions and awaited the signal. It was 
given at half-past three o'clock on the morning of April 24, 
1862. Captain Bailey led off with his division of eight 




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THE CIVIL WAR. 241 

vessels. Under the storm of shot and shell they passed 
the obstructions and ran by the forts against the current, 
in a stream less than half a mile wide, escaping the blaz- 
ing rafts only to be met at the end of their journey by the 
confederate gunboats eager to begin the fight. The second 
division of the fleet was led through the fiery gauntlet by 
the Hartford with Foote on board. The Scotia, carrying 
Fleet Captain Bell, led the third division. The Kennebec, 
Itasca and Winona failed to pass the forts, becoming en- 
tangled in the rafts and floating debris and delayed beyond 
the dawn. The latter lost all but one man of her rifled 
gun crew. Having passed the forts, the fleet savagely 
attacked the confederate gunboats beyond, and their de- 
struction was speedily accomplished. 

On May 1, New Orleans was formally occupied by 
United States troops. The federals lost in the taking of 
New Orleans, 36 killed and 193 wounded. 

Yorktown, Va., McClellan's Siege of — [April 4-May 5, 
1862] — Nov. 1, 1861, McClellan was appointed to the chief 
command of the armies of the United States. At that time 
the Army of the Potomac had an effective strength of 
134,285 men and nearly 300 guns. He set about improv- 
ing the organization and efficiency of the men, and by 
March 1, 1862, the forces about Washington numbered 
221,987. The country was growing impatient at the in- 
activity of the army, and the cry "On to Richmond" was 
echoed from, the press to the rostrum. The people de- 
manded and the President directed that a move of some 
kind be made. The mere rumor that McClellan contem- 
plated a forward movement, caused the confederates to 
evacuate Manassas, Johnston withdrawing his forces to 
the defense of Richmond March 9, 1862. Next morning 
the Army of the Potomac occupied the place and were 
chagrined to find the earthworks insignificant and many 



242 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

of the guns simply wooden imitations. With these an army 
of one-fourth their number had long held them at bay. 

March 11, the President relieved McClellan of the com- 
mand of all military departments except that of the Po- 
tomac, which had been divided into five corps, under com- 
mand of Generals McDowell, Sumner, Heintzelman, Keyes 
and Banks. It was decided that this army, except so much 
as was necessary for the protection of Washington, should 
move upon Richmond by way of the Virginia Peninsula, 
lying between the James and York Rivers, which empty 
into Chesapeake Bay. Fortress Monroe occupies the ex- 
tremity of the Peninsula. Its extreme length is about 60 
miles and the average breadth is 12 miles. Heintzelman's 
corps embarked March 17, and April 1 the headquarters 
of the Army of the Potomac were transferred to the vi- 
cinity of Fortress Monroe. Yorktown was defended by 
General Magruder with 8,000 confederates. April 4 oc- 
curred the principal skirmish of the siege, in which 35 men 
were killed and 120 wounded on the union side, while the 
confederates lost more than 100 killed. The time from 
April 4 to May 4 was consumed by McClellan in building 
fortifications and roads to take Magruder's little army. 
On the 5th the last of the confederates retired up the 
Peninsula. 

Williamsburg, Va. — [May 5, 1862] — As soon as it was 
discovered that the confederates had withdrawn from 
Yorktown (May 5, 1862) a column was sent in pursuit. It 
came up with the retreating rear guard at Williamsburg, 
after a pursuit of ten miles. The confederates had been 
reinforced from Johnston's army at Richmond, and Long- 
street's division, having passed beyond the town, retraced 
its steps to resist the attack. Hooker of Hentzleman's 
division, and Smith of Keyes's, bore the brunt of the battle, 
fighting from morning till late in the afternoon, vainly 



THE CIVIL WAR. 243 

calling for reinforcements, with 30,000 of their comrades 
in sight with arms in their hands. The arrival of Kearny's 
division about four P. M. turned the tide of battle, and 
the confederates retired toward Richmond. Hooker 
marched into Williamsburg in triumph on the evening of 
May 5. The federal loss was 2,239 men, of whom 456 were 
killed, 1,410 wounded and 373 missing. The confederates 
lost 288 killed, 975 wounded and 279 missing, a total of 
1,560. 

Norfolk, Va., Surrender of— [May 10, 1862]— The 
movement of the federal army up the Peninsula of Vir- 
ginia, in May, 1862, led to the withdrawal of the confed- 
erate force from Norfolk, and to their destruction of the 
iron-clad Merrimac. This left the James River open to 
navigation. An expedition was sent out from Fortress 
Monroe under General Wool, May 10, to take possession 
of Norfolk. It was turned over by the Mayor without a 
struggle. 

Winchester, Va.— [May 24, 1862] — While the Army of 
the Potomac under General McClellan was advancing up 
the Peninsula toward Richmond, the forces in northern 
Virginia were divided into three separate armies — the 
Mountain Department under General Fremont, the De- 
partment of the Shenandoah under General Banks and 
the region covered by the approaches to Washington, 
known as the Department of Washington, under General 
McDowell. . When McDowell sought to form a junction 
with McClellan by way of Fredericksburg, "Stonewall" 
Jackson with a force of 15,000 men was ordered to frus- 
trate the plan and make a demonstration against Wash- 
ington. Banks's army, posted at Harrisburg in the Shen- 
andoah Valley, numbered about 5,000 men. On Jackson's 
advance Banks retired down the Valley to the Heights 
of Winchester, where, on May 24, 1862, he made a stand 



244 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

and gave battle until, assailed on both flanks, he fled 
May 25 to the north bank of the Potomac, making the dis- 
tance, 53 miles, in 48 hours. Jackson pursued him till 
within two miles of Harper's Ferry. The federal loss was 
62 killed, 243 wounded and 1,714 missing, a total of 2,019. 
The confederates lost 39 killed, 172 wounded and 3 miss- 
ing, a total of 214. 

Hanover Court House, Va.— [May 27, 1862]— May 24, 
1862, while McClellan's army was advancing up the Pe- 
ninsula toward Richmond, General Fitz John Porter was 
sent with 12,000 men to Hanover Court House, seventeen 
miles north of Richmond, on the Richmond, Fredericks- 
burg & Potomac Railroad, to meet and facilitate the ad- 
vance of McDowell's corps, which was to join McClellan 
by way of Fredericksburg. Here, May 27, Porter met 
and defeated General Branch with 13,000 confederates. 
The federal loss was 355, of whom 62 were killed, 223 
wounded and 70 missing. That of the confederates was 
73 killed, 192 wounded and 730 taken prisoners. McDowell 
was recalled and Porter returned to his former camp at 
Gaines's Mills. 

Corinth, Miss., Evacuated— [May 29, 1862]— After the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing, General Halleck took com- 
mand in person, arriving at Shiloh April 11, 1862. On the 
21st General Pope arrived with 30,000 men fresh from the 
capture of Island No. 10. These, with Buell's Ohio Army 
and the Army of the Tennessee, swelled the army under 
Halleck to about 100,000. Grant was second in command. 
Corinth is about twenty miles south of Shiloh and about 
four miles south of the line dividing the states of Ten- 
nessee and Mississippi. April 30 the march upon Corinth 
was begun. The movement was slow and cautious. May 
29, Beauregard, with his army of 30,000, evacuated the 
place without resistance, taking his stores and munitions. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 245 

Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, Va.— [May 31, 1862] — 
From Williamsburg to Richmond, Va., the distance is 
about fifty miles. By May 30, 1862, Casey's and Couch's 
divisions of Keyes's corps of McClellan's army had crossed 
the Chickahominy and advanced to Fair Oaks and Seven 
Pines, six and seven miles respectively from Richmond. 
Heintzelman's corps had also crossed and was encamped 
several miles to the rear of Couch on the Williamsburg 
road, and Sumner was ready to make the passage of the 
stream, when a heavy rain, which occurred on the night 
of May 30, rendered this impracticable. Johnston, who 
was in command at Richmond, sent Generals Longstreet, 
Huger, D. H. Hill and Gustavus Smith to attack this ad- 
vance guard of the invading army. The fighting began 
at one P. M. of May 31. The federals were outnumbered 
and gradually fell back, when at 4:30 the arrival of Sedg- 
wick's division of Sumner's corps turned the tide of battle. 
At sunset General Johnston was severely wounded by a 
piece of shell and the command devolved upon Smith. 

In the morning the confederates renewed the attack. 
They were finally repulsed about noon, taking the spoils 
of the camps of Casey and Couch. The confederates lost 
908 killed, 4,749 wounded and 405 missing, a total of 6,062. 
The federals lost 5,031, of whom 790 were killed, 3,594 
wounded and 647 missing. 

Memphis, Tenn., Capture of— [June 6, 1862]— After the 
evacuation of Corinth by Beauregard, Fort Pillow, forty 
miles above Memphis, was useless, as the union army could 
take it from the rear. The confederates therefore spiked 
the guns, burned the barracks and what supplies they 
could not take away, and the gunboats dropped down the 
river to Memphis. The confederate fleet consisted of eight 
vessels mounting twenty-eight guns, commanded by Com- 
modore Montgomery. On June 6, 1862, Commodore Davis 



246 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

with five union gunboats and two rams appeared before the 
city, and Montgomery went forth to give him battle. After 
an hour and twenty minutes of fierce fighting nothing was 
left of the confederate fleet. Colonel Ellet, who built the 
rams, was the only person injured on the federal side. 
The number of killed and wounded on the confederate 
side is not known, but was probably between 80 and 100, 
while 260 were reported missing. 

Cross Keys, Va.— [June 8, 1862]— During "Stonewall" 
Jackson's retreat up the Shenandoah Valley in the sum- 
mer of 1862, Generals Fremont and Shields were both on 
the alert to capture him. Fremont reached Strasburg 
June 1, just after Jackson had passed through it. At Fort 
Republic the river divides, and on the larger of the two 
branches, at a village known as Cross Keys, Fremont 
brought Ewell's division of Jackson's army to bay, June 8. 
A slight skirmish ensued and Ewell retired during the 
night, with a loss of 56 killed, 392 wounded and 47 miss- 
ing, a total of 495. The federal loss was 114 killed, 443 
wounded and 127 missing, a total of 684. 

Fort Republic, Va. — [June 9, 1862] — The morning after 
the skirmish between Ewell and Fremont's forces at Cross 
Keys, Jackson drew in Ewell and crossed the branch of 
the Shenandoah, and, destroying the bridges, cut off two 
brigades of Shields's advance from Fremont, and captured 
their artillery. Federal losses : 67 killed, 393 wounded 
and 558 missing, a total of 1,018. The confederates lost 
615, of whom 78 were killed, 533 wounded and 4 reported 
missing. 

Seven Days' Battles— [June 25-July 1, 1862]— A series 
of battles fought in the vicinity of Richmond, Va., between 
the Army of the Potomac under McClellan, and the con- 
federate army under Lee. The first conflict occurred on 
June 25, 1862, and a battle was fought each day up to and 



THE CIVIL WAR. 247 

including July 1. On June 25, McClellan's army be- 
fore Richmond, numbering 115,102, received orders to ad- 
vance. Hooker advanced beyond Fair Oaks, and secured 
his ground. Meantime the confederates had placed Rich- 
mond in a state of security and determined upon aggressive 
movements. General R. E. Lee had succeeded Johnston 
in command, and it was determined to bring the mass of 
the army down the Chickahominy and threaten McClel- 
lan's communications with the York River. Jackson had 
moved out of the Shenandoah Valley, and was at Hanover 
Court House ready to render what assistance might be re- 
quired. McClellan determined to change his base of opera- 
tions to the James River, seventeen miles south of Fair 
Oaks. The retreat was accomplished with a loss to the 
federal army of 15,849 men, 1,734 of whom were killed, 
8,062 wounded and 6,053 missing. The confederate loss 
was 20,614, 3,478 being killed, 16,281 wounded and 875 
missing. The operations of the two armies are described 
under the headings, Oak Grove, Mechanicsville, Gaines's 
Mill, Golding's Farm, Savage's Station, Frazier's Farm 
and Malvern Hill. 

Oak Grove— [June 25, 1862] — One of the Seven Days' 
Battles before Richmond. For the purpose of ascertaining 
the nature of the ground and securing a position to sup- 
port the intended attack on the Old Tavern by General 
Franklin, Heintzelman's corps and part of Keyes's and 
Sumner's were ordered to move forward through a 
swampy wood on the Williamsburg Road on June 25, 
1862. The advance was made and the brigades of Sickles 
and Grover of Hooker's division bore the brunt of the 
ensuing fight. The federal loss was 626, of whom 67 were 
killed, 504 wounded and 55 missing. 

Mechanicsville — [June 26, 1862] — One of the Seven 
Days' Battles before Richmond. June 26 the confederate 



248 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

general, A. P. Hill, crossed to the north side of the Chicka- 
hominy, supported by Generals Longstreet and D. H. Hill. 
It was expected that Jackson, who was in the vicinity, 
would join them. They encountered Fitz John Porter 
with 27,000 men and were repulsed with a loss of 1,500 
men. Porter lost 49 killed, 207 wounded and 105 missing, 
a total of 361. 

Gaines's Mill— [June 27, 1862]— One of the Seven Days' 
Battles before Richmond. June 27, the day after the battle 
of Mechanicsville, Porter retired about five miles east of 
his former position to Gaines's Mill Heights. Here he 
was attacked shortly after noon by A. P. Hill's corps. 
Slocum's division was sent to reinforce Porter, increasing 
his army to 35,000. During the afternoon Jackson joined 
Hill and Longstreet, swelling the confederate forces to 
60,000. Severe fighting was continued till dark. Porter 
succeeded in defending the bridges across the Chicka- 
hominy, allowing the heavy guns and wagon trains to 
pass in safety on their way to the James. During the night 
he himself crossed over and destroyed the bridges. The 
confederate losses were 589 killed and 2,671 wounded in 
Jackson's corps alone. Porter lost 894 men killed, 3,107 
wounded and 2,836 missing, a total of 6,837. This en- 
gagement is also known as the Battle of the Chickahom- 
iny and Battle of Cold Harbor. 

Golding's Farm— [June 28, 1862]— One of the Seven 
Days' Battles before Richmond. When Franklin's corps 
were about to abandon their works on Goldingf's farm 
in front of Woodbury's bridge on the morning of June 28, 
they were attacked by the confederate artillery stationed 
on Garnett Hill and Gaines's Hill, beyond the Chicka- 
hominy. The artillery fire was followed by a charge by 
two Georgia regiments, who were repulsed by New York 
and Pennsylvania regiments, who were on sentry duty. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 249 

The federal losses were 37 men killed, 227 wounded and 
104 missing, a total of 368. 

Savage's Station— [June 29, 1862]— One of the Seven 
Days' Battles before Richmond. June 29, 1862, Sumner 
and Heintzelman retired from Fair Oaks and took up a 
position near Savage's Station on the Richmond & York 
River Railroad. After destroying the supplies there, 
Heintzelman moved south across the swamp. Magruder, 
in pursuit, rinding Fair Oaks abandoned, advanced to Sav- 
age's Station and made an attack on Sumner's corps in 
the evening. The latter maintained his ground till dark. 
During the night he passed into the White Oak Swamp, 
leaving 2,500 sick and wounded in the hospital at the 
station. Before sunrise the federals had passed White 
Oak Bridge, which they destroyed. The loss was 80 killed, 
412 wounded and 1,098 missing, a total of 1,590. 

Frazier's Farm— [June 30, 1862]— One of the Seven 
Days' Battles before Richmond. June 30, 1862, Long- 
street and A. P. Hill crossed the Chickahominy in pursuit 
of McClellan's retreating army. Huger and Magruder 
marched around the White Oak Swamp to operate on his 
flank, and a brigade was brought over the James River 
from Fort Darling. At four o'clock in the afternoon Long- 
street and Hill made the attack. Huger and Magruder 
failed to arrive. The fighting was furious. Nearly one- 
fourth of McCall's division, upon which the attack was 
made, were- killed. The total federal losses were 210 
killed, 1,513 wounded and 1,130 missing, 2,854 in all. Of 
the confederate loss General Pryor of the Fifth Brigade 
of Longstreet's corps, reported the Fourteenth Alabama 
Regiment nearly annihilated. Of the 1,400 men with whom 
he crossed the Chickahominy June 26, 860 had been lost 
up to this time. 



250 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Malvern Hill— [July 1, 1862]— One of the Seven Days' 
Battles before Richmond. On the morning of July 1, 
1862, the Second, Third and Sixth corps of McClellan's 
army were united on Malvern Hill, a plateau near the 
James River, Va., under command of Keyes, Franklin, 
Sumner, Heintzelman and Porter. The approaches to the 
position were commanded by about seventy guns, several 
of them heavy siege cannon. D. H. Hill and Magruder 
made the attack about three P. M. and it was continued 
until nine. The assailants were repulsed at every point. 
During the night McClellan continued his retreat to Har- 
rison's Landing. The federal losses were 397 killed, 2,092 
wounded and 725 missing, a total of 3,214. From Har- 
rison's Landing McClellan telegraphed to the President 
that he had probably 50,000 men left out of an army of 
159,500. In reality he had about 86,000 men left. 

Baton Rouge, La. — [August 5, 1862] — Early in May, 
1862, after the taking of New Orleans by federal troops, 
Admiral Farragut passed up the river and raised the 
American flag over the public buildings in Baton Rouge, 
then the capital of Louisiana. General Thomas Williams 
was placed in common of the place with a small garrison. 
August 5, 1862, he was attacked by General Breckinridge, 
assisted by the iron-clad gunboat Arkansas. The confed- 
erates were repulsed. The union loss was 84 killed, in- 
cluding General Williams, 266 wounded and 33 missing, 
a total of 383. The confederates lost 84 killed, 313 wound- 
ed and 56 missing, a total of 453. 

Cedar Mountain or Cedar Run, Va. — [August 9, 1862] — 
June 26, 1862, General John Pope was assigned to the 
command of the combined forces of Banks, Fremont and 
McDowell, known as the Army of Virginia. Each of the 
separate armies had been defeated or forced into retreat 
by Jackson. The combined forces now numbered 45,000\ 



THE CIVIL WAR. 251 

including 5,000 cavalry. Pope established headquarters at 
Culpeper, about sixty miles southwest of Washington. 
General Lee sent Jackson and A. P. Hill to occupy Gor- 
donsville, a few miles south of Culpeper, and their united 
armies numbering 25,000 men, advanced toward Culpeper 
Court House, and on August 9 attacked General Banks, 
with a federal force of 8,000 men, at Cedar Mountain, a 
hill two miles west of Mitchell's Station, Culpeper County, 
Va. Banks was defeated. The federal losses were 314 
killed, 1,445 wounded and 622 missing, a total of 2,381. 
The confederates lost 223 killed, 1,060 wounded and 31 
missing, a total of 1,314. 

Bristow Station, Va. — [August 27, 1862] — Hooker's 
and Heintzelman's divisions of McClellan's army had been 
sent to reinforce Pope, who had taken up a position west 
of the Rappahannock. Stonewall Jackson made a forced 
march from the Shenandoah Valley by way of Thorough- 
fare Gap, and passing by the battlefield of Bull Run, 
August 26, 1862, destroyed Pope's stores at Bristow Sta- 
tion and then advanced to Manassas. Hooker's division 
the next day came upon the confederates under Ewell 
at Bristow Station, and drove them from the field. Each 
side suffered a loss of about 300 men. This defeat of Ewell 
forced Jackson to evacuate Manassas. 

Groveton, Va. — [August 29, 1862] — After eluding 
Pope's army and destroying the military stores at Bris- 
tow's Station and Manassas, "Stonewall" Jackson retired 
across the battlefield of Bull Run and waited the rein- 
forcements under Longstreet, which were expected by 
way of Cumberland Gap. Longstreet arrived on 
August 29, swelling the numbers of the confederate army 
to 80,000. Pope's army, reinforced by Heintzelman's 
corps, numbered about 50,000. On the evening of the 
28th Kearny had driven the confederate rear guard out of 



252 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Centreville, and Pope, feeling sure of crushing Longstreet 
and Jackson, ordered an attack to be made at daylight 
next morning. Sigel began the attack, which soon became 
general. McDowell's corps arrived upon the scene of 
battle late in the afternoon. Porter never came into action 
though ordered up by Pope. For alleged disobedience of 
orders in this connection, charges were preferred against 
Fitz John Porter by Pope. At night both armies rested 
on the field, each having lost about 7,000 men. 

Manassas or Second Bull Run — [August 30, 1862] — On 
the morning of August 30, 1862, the day after the battle 
of Groveton, the conflict was renewed. Jackson, having 
been reinforced, massed his forces on the left of the fed- 
eral army, with the intention of turning Pope's flank and 
securing a position on the road to Centreville in his rear. 
The fiercest fighting of the day took place about five 
o'clock in the afternoon on the ground where the battle 
of Bull Run had been fought, July 21, 1861. By night the 
left wing of the army had been forced back about half a 
mile, while the right held its ground. Denied ammunition, 
reinforcements, and even necessary subsistence, Pope was 
compelled to retire to Centreville, which he did in good 
order. 

Chantilly, Va.— [Sept. 1, 1862]— August 31, 1862, the 
day after the second battle of Bull Run or Manassas, Lee 
sent Jackson northward for the purpose of turning Pope's 
right wing toward Washington. Pope's headquarters were 
at Centreville, and he had been reinforced by Sumner's 
and Franklin's corps. Anticipating the movement of the 
confederates, he disposed his forces in position to meet and 
frustrate it. Jackson's advance was made on the evening 
of Sept. 1, in the midst of a terrific thunder-storm. He 
was met and repulsed at Chantilly, just north of Centre- 
ville, by the troops under McDowell, Hooker and Kearny. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 253 

In this engagement Generals Kearny and Stevens were 
killed. Pope was forced to fall back upon the works at 
Washington. 

He then resigned his command and was succeeded by 
McClellan. His losses in the campaign in Virginia were 
in the neighborhood of 15,000 men, 1,849 of whom were 
killed and 8,670 wounded, thirty guns, 20,000 small arms 
and large quantities of supplies and ammunition. The loss 
to Lee's army during these operations was 9,500, of whom 
1,568 were killed and 7,806 wounded. 

South Mountain, Md.— [Sept. 14, 1862] — After driving 
the union army back upon the fortifications around Wash- 
ington, Lee's army crossed the Potomac into Maryland. 
The confederate commander issued an address to the 
people, offering them the protection of his government, 
and calling for volunteer soldiers. He sent 25,000 men 
under Jackson to capture the garrison at Harper's Ferry. 
As soon as it became known at Washington that Lee had 
crossed into Maryland, McClellan was ordered to follow 
him with all the troops not needed to defend Washington. 
Sept. 12, 1862, McClellan reached Frederick with a force 
estimated at from 80,000 to 90,000 men, just after it had 
been evacuated by Lee's army, which had passed west 
over the Catoctin Mountains toward South Mountain. 

The road from Frederick to Hagerstown, Md., passes 
through Turner's Gap of the South Mountain. The main 
body of the confederates, numbering 25,000 men, under 
D. H. Hill, made a stand at this gap, and here occurred 
the chief action of the battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14, 
1862. Cox's division of Reno's corps of Burnside's column 
carried the left side of the gap, and Hooker's corps of 
Burnside's column under Meade, Patrick, Doubleday, 
Phelps and Ricketts, carried the right. The gap was con- 
tested from eight A. M. until after dark. During the night 



254 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the confederates retired, leaving their dead upon the field. 

Crampton's Gap, six miles below Turner's, held by the 
confederates under Howell Cobb, was simultaneously car- 
ried by Franklin. The federal loss at Turner's Gap, South 
Mountain, was 328 killed, 1,463 wounded and missing, and 
at Crampton's Gap 115 killed and 418 wounded and 
missing. 

Harper's Ferry, Va., Capture of— [Sept. 15, 1862] — 
After Stonewall Jackson was detached from Lee's army 
in Maryland, he recrossed the Potomac at Williamsport, 
Sept. 12, 1862, and proceeded down the Virginia side of 
the river to Harper's Ferry, and on Sept. 13 occupied Lou- 
don Heights, and on the 14th, Maryland Heights, meet- 
ing with no opposition in either place, though Colonel 
Miles had been ordered to fortify the latter position. 
Miles's command numbered some 14,000 men. On the 
night of the 14th, Colonel Davis, with 2,000 cavalry, 
crossed the river between the confederate forces and 
escaped. Jackson began firing on the garrison on the 
evening of the 14th, and continued on the morning of the 
15th of September until Miles, mortally wounded, sur- 
rendered 11,583 men, seventy-three guns, 13,000 small 
arms, 200 wagons and large quantities of supplies. The 
killed and wounded on the union side numbered 217, while 
the confederates sustained no loss. 

Antietam, Md. — [Sept. 16-17, 1862] — Forced out of the 
fastnesses of South Mountain, Lee's army retreated to 
the west of Antietam Creek, a small stream flowing into 
the Potomac about eight miles above Harper's Ferry. 
Here, near the town of Sharpsburg, between the Potomac 
and the creek, Lee awaited the return of Jackson, who had 
been sent to take Harper's Ferry. Lee had not more than 
25,000 men, until Jackson's two badly broken brigades 
came up. Later he was joined by D. H. Hill's, McLaw's 



THE CIVIL WAR. 255 

and Anderson's brigades. This raised the numerical force 
of his command to 45,000 combatants. Other reinforce- 
ments received during the day swelled the number of Lee's 
army to 70,000. Sept. 16, 1862, McClellan's army, about 
70,000 strong, was assembled on the east bank of Antie- 
tam Creek. This command was reinforced to 87,164, of 
which 4,320 were cavalry. 

On the evening of the 16th Hooker's division crossed 
the creek and began an attack, which darkness ended. 
Fighting was resumed at daylight of the 17th, and con- 
tinued all day with varying success and terrible slaughter. 
Darkness again put an end to the carnage. McClellan was 
dissuaded from renewing the attack on the 18th, but or- 
ders were issued to resume fighting on the 19th. During 
the night of the 18th, however, the confederates withdrew 
to the west of the Potomac and proceeded toward Mar- 
tinsburg. A few days later McClellan reoccupied Mar- 
tinsburg. His losses in the battle of Antietam were 2,010 
killed, 9,416 wounded and 1,043 missing, a total of 12,469. 
McClellan's army buried 2,700 confederates, others having 
been buried by their comrades. Lee's total loss at An- 
tietam was about 13,530. Not a gun or color was lost by 
the federals at South Mountain or Antietam. Among the 
trophies of the campaign were thirteen guns, thirty-nine 
colors, upward of 15,000 stand of small arms, and more 
than 6,000 prisoners. The whole loss of men in the cam- 
paign, including Harper's Ferry and skirmishes, was 
27,940. The total confederate loss for the campaign was 
about 15,000. 

Richmond, Ky. — [August 30, 1862] — After the confed- 
erates had evacuated Corinth, Miss., in the summer of 
1862, they began to gather strength in the vicinity of Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn., where by the middle of August they had 
collected an army estimated at from 55,000 to 65,000 under 



256 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

General Braxton Bragg. General Kirby Smith with about 
20,000 men passed up the Cumberland Mountains on the 
east, and, passing through the gaps, invaded Kentucky. 
At Richmond he encountered General Manson August 30, 
defending the place with a garrison of Buell's army. Man- 
son was defeated and Smith proceeded to Frankfort. The 
loss in the taking of Richmond was about 5,000 on each 
side. 

Munfordville, Ky. — [Sept. 17, 1862] — Early in the sum- 
mer of 1862 the confederates, after their evacuation of 
Corinth, Miss., May 29, concentrated about Chattanooga, 
Tenn., under General Braxton Bragg, with Hardee, Polk 
and Kirby Smith as corps commanders. The union forces 
under General Buell stretched from Bridgeport, Ala., to 
Nashville, Tenn., and numbered about 40,000, concentrated 
mainly at Nashville. Bragg climbed over the rough moun- 
tain roads into Kentucky Sept. 5, 1862, and compelled 
J. T. Wilder to surrender Munfordville, a fortified post 
with its garrison of 4,076 men, on Sept. 17. Wilder had 
15 men killed and 57 wounded. The loss to Bragg' s forces 
footed up 251, 40 of whom were killed. 

Iuka, Miss.— [Sept. 19, 1862] — The transfer of Generals 
Pope and Halleck to Washington in the summer of 1862 
left Grant in command of the Army of the Tennessee, 
with headquarters at Corinth, Miss. Halleck ordered most 
of the Army of the Tennessee to be placed under Buell's 
command, leaving it on the defensive, and harrassed by 
the confederates under Van Dorn and Price. Sept. 13, 
1862, Price advanced from the south and seized Iuka, 
a village in northwest Mississippi, 21 miles east of Corinth. 
Van Dorn was then only four days off to the southwest, 
threatening Corinth. General Rosecrans with 9,000 men 
was ordered to attack Price from the south, and General 
Ord with 8,000 was to attack from the north. The two 



THE CIVIL WAR. 257 

armies failed to co-operate, and Price attacked Rosecrans 
Sept. 19. The latter kept his ground, but lost a battery of 
artillery besides 790 men — 141 killed, 613 wounded and 
36 missing. Price made his escape with a loss of 693 — 
86 killed and 408 wounded and 199 missing. 

Corinth, Miss. — [Oct. 3-4, 1862] — In order to recover 
Corinth from Grant and determine the possession of 
northern Mississippi and western Tennessee, the confed- 
erates had collected an army of 38,000 under Van Dorn, 
Price, Lovell, Villepigne and Rust. Oct. 2, 1862, they 
appeared in front of Corinth, and on the 3d fighting began. 
Grant directed Rosecrans to call in all his forces for the 
defense, and sent Brigadier-General McPherson to his 
support from Jackson. Ord and Hurlbut were sent from 
Bolivar by way of Pocahontas to attack the flank of Van 
Dorn. Rosecrans's force numbered about 19,000 men. 
Rosecrans advanced five miles beyond the town and fell 
back, fighting, upon Grant's fortifications. 

The fighting was resumed on the morning of the 4th, 
and before noon the repulse was complete. The federal 
loss was 355 killed, 1,841 wounded and 232 missing. The 
confederates admitted their loss to have been double that 
of Rosecrans. The latter reported the confederate dead 
at 1,423. He took 2,225 prisoners. The confederates re- 
ported 505 killed, 2,150 wounded and 2,183 missing, a total 
of 4,838. On the 5th, while in full retreat, the confederates 
were attacked by the divisions of Ord and Hurlbut, at 
the crossing of the Hatchie River, ten miles from Corinth. 
A battery and several hundred men were captured, and 
the advance was dispersed or drowned. This gave the 
federal government full control of western Tennessee. 

Perryville, Ky.— [Oct. 8, 1862]— Oct. 1, 1862, the con- 
federate forces under Bragg and Kirby Smith having 
united at Frankfort, Ky., the confederate commander is- 



258 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

sued a proclamation calling the people of Kentucky to his 
assistance. He inaugurated a provisional government at 
Frankfort, with Richard Hawes as governor. Buell's army, 
divided into three corps under McCook, Gilbert and Crit- 
tenden, advanced against the confederates by way of 
Louisville. Oct. 8, McCook's corps was attacked near 
Perryville, and after a fight lasting all day Bragg's army 
was repulsed. The engagement, while not general all 
day, was severe. During the night the confederates re- 
tired and retreated to Cumberland Gap, leaving 1,200 
wounded and sick behind. The federal losses were 845 
killed (including Generals Jackson and Terrell), 2,851 
wounded and 515 missing, a total of 4,211. The confed- 
erates lost 510 killed, 2,635 wounded and 251 missing, a 
total of 3,396. 

Prairie Grove, Ark.— [Dec. 7, 1862]— Sept. 19, 1862, 
President Lincoln directed that Missouri, Arkansas, Kan- 
sas and the eastern portion of Indian Territory should con- 
stitute the Department of the Missouri, to be commanded 
by Brigadier-General Samuel R. Curtis. The only impor- 
tant engagement that occurred in this department while 
Curtis was in command, was at Prairie Grove, Washing- 
ton County, Ark. The confederate general, Thomas C. 
Hindman, was on his way north into Missouri, with a 
large force, when, on Dec. 7, 1862, he encountered the 
united forces of General James G. Blunt and Francis J. 
Herron. During the engagement which ensued the ied-* 
erals lost 1,251, of whom 175 were killed, 813 wounded 
and 263 missing. The confederates lost 981, 164 being 
killed. The latter retired during the night to their wagon 
train, which had been left south of the Ozark mountains, 
and on Jan. 1, 1863, Curtis reported that there were no 
considerable number of confederate troops north of the 
Arkansas River. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 259 

Fredericksburg, Va.— [Dec. 13, 1862]— After the battle 
of Antietam, McClellan, still in command of the Army of 
the Potomac, occupied Harper's Ferry Sept. 22, 1862. 
Nov. 7 he was relieved of his command and General Burn- 
side appointed in his stead. Lee's army was at that time 
at Culpeper and westward of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 
Burnside divided the army, now numbering 127,574 men, 
into three grand divisions of two corps each. By Nov. 17 
he had moved this army down the left bank of the Rap- 
pahannock to Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. Here 
the advance was delayed awaiting the pontoon train from 
Washington. In the meantime Lee had concentrated the 
confederate army of between 80,000 and 90,000 in the hills 
behind Fredericksburg. Dec. 11, 1862, the pontoons were 
laid and on the 12th Franklin's division crossed. The 
union forces were formed with Franklin on the left, 
Hooker's division in the centre and Sumner's on the right. 

The battle was opened by Franklin on the morning of 
the 13th, and continued in a series of disconnected and 
unsuccessful attacks on the enemy's works, until night. 
On the 14th and 15th a truce was obtained by the federals 
for burying their dead, and on the evening of the latter 
date they retired across the river and the confederates 
again occupied Fredericksburg. The federal losses were 
1,284 killed, 9,600 wounded and 1,769 missing, a total of 
12,653. The confederates lost 596 killed, 4,068 wounded 
and 651 missing, a total of 5,315. Later in the month the 
federal army went into winter quarters at Falmouth, and 
Jan. 25, 1863, Burnside was relieved of the command at 
his own request. 

Stone River or Murfreesborough — [Dec. 31, 1862, 
Jan. 2-5, 1863]— Oct. 30, 1862, Buell was succeeded in the 
command of the Army of the Ohio by General William S. 
Rosecrans. During December the federal army of 41,421 



260 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

infantry, 3,266 cavalry and 2,223 artillery, with 150 guns, 
lay at Nashville, Tenn. The confederate government was 
dissatisfied with Bragg's recent invasion of Kentucky, and 
no sooner had he reached Chattanooga than he was again 
ordered north. By Christmas he was posted with an army 
of 62,000 on Stone River, between Murfreesborough, about 
thirty miles southeast of Nashville, and Rosecrans's army. 
Rosecrans had planned to attack the confederate right 
early on the morning of Dec. 31, but Bragg, anticipating 
his design, attacked McCook on the federal right, and 
drove him from his position with considerable loss, in- 
cluding 3,000 prisoners and twenty-eight guns. Both 
armies rested on Jan. 1, 1863, and on the 2d Rosecrans 
resumed his efforts to turn the confederate right. 

The federal advance was at first driven back across 
Stone River, but later recovered the ground and threw 
up breastworks. Bragg retired from his position on the 3d, 
and occupied Murfreesborough, which he evacuated on 
the 5th and fell back to Duck River. The federal loss in 
the fighting about Murfreesborough was 1,730 killed, 
7,802 wounded and 3,717 prisoners, a total of 13,249. That 
of the confederates was 1,294 killed, 7,945 wounded and 
1,027 missing, a total of 10,266. 

Arkansas Post, Ark., Capture of — [Jan. 11, 1863] — After 
an unsuccessful attack upon Vicksburg by way of the 
Yazoo River, in the latter part of December, 1862, Sher- 
man withdrew his army to the transports which had con- 
veyed it from Memphis. Jan. 4, 1863, he was superseded 
in command by General McClernand, and the expedition, 
under convoy of Admiral Porter's fleet of gunboats, moved 
against Fort Hindman, at Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas 
River, near the mouth of the White. The transports were 
taken up the White River and the troops landed three 
miles below the fort. The gunboats maintained a terrific 



THE CIVIL WAR. 261 

fire from the Arkansas River to distract the enemy's at- 
tention and by the evening of the 10th of January the 
troops were in position. Next morning a combined attack 
was begun, which was maintained until four o'clock in the 
afternoon, when the white flag was raised and 5,000 pris- 
oners were surrendered to the union soldiers. The fed- 
eral loss in the action was 134 killed, 898 wounded and 29 
missing, a total of 1,061. 

Grierson's Raid— [April 17-May 2, 1863]— In the spring 
of 1863, General Hurlbut, commanding the federal lines 
from Memphis to Corinth, conceived the idea of pushing 
a flying column of cavalry through the length of Missis- 
sippi, to cut the Southern Railroad and destroy bridges. 
With the approval of General Grant, Colonel B. H. Grier- 
son was assigned to the command of this column, with 
orders to proceed from La Grange, Tenn., with the Sixth 
Illinois, his own regiment; the Seventh Illinois and the 
Second Iowa, by way of Pontotoc, in the northern part of 
Mississippi, to Baton Rouge, La. April 17, 1863, the ex- 
pedition started, and on the 19th the Second Iowa was de- 
tached below Pontotoc and the two Illinois regiments pro- 
ceeded without loss or engagement to Baton Rouge, 
where they entered the union lines May 2. 

The results of the expedition, aside from the important 
revelation it made of the strong undercurrent of union 
sentiment among the people of the region visited, are thus 
summed up in Grierson's report: About 100 of the enemy 
killed and wounded, 500 prisoners (many of them officers) 
captured and paroled, between 40 and 50 miles of railroad 
and telegraph destroyed, more than 3,000 stand of arms 
and other stores captured and destroyed, and 1,000 horses 
and mules seized. The federal loss was 3 killed, 7 wounded, 
5 left sick on the route and 9 men missing. 

Streight's Raid— [April 12-May 3, 1863]— In the spring 



262 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

of 1863, about the time Colonel Grierson's flying column 
of cavalry was organized at Memphis, Colonel A. D. 
Streight, of the Fifty-first Indiana, was permitted by Gen- 
eral Rosecrans to take a body of about 1,500 cavalry from 
Tuscumbia, Ala., to attempt the destruction of railroads 
and other property in northern Alabama and Georgia. 
The raiders started out April 12, and were captured May 3, 
1863, near Rome, Ga., having accomplished nothing. The 
official reports give 12 killed, 69 wounded and 1,466 
captured. 

Port Gibson, Miss. — [May 2, 1863] — One of the engage- 
ments preliminary to the taking of Vicksburg. On the 
night of April 16, 1863, the federal gunboats, under Ad- 
miral Porter, succeeded in running past the batteries at 
Vicksburg. Grant ordered Sherman to make a feint on 
the confederate batteries at Haines Bluff, above Vicks- 
burg, while Porter covered the landing of McClernand's 
and McPherson's corps at Bruinsburg, a few miles below 
Grand Gulf. Immediately upon landing, McClernand 
pushed forward toward Port Gibson. A march of eight 
miles brought him in sight of the enemy, whom he forced 
back till dark. The next day, May 2, the confederates held 
a strong position, which they stubbornly defended all day. 
That night the troops slept on their arms. During the 
night the confederate forces retired across the Bayou 
Pierre, pursued next day by McPherson's corps. The 
federal loss was 131 killed, 719 wounded and 25 missing, 
a total of 875. The confederate loss was reported as 68 
killed, 380 wounded and 384 missing, a total of 832. One 
thousand prisoners and five cannon were taken from the 
confederates. 

Chancellorsville, Va.— [May 1-4, 1863]— Jan. 26, 1863, 
Major-General Joseph Hooker succeeded Burnside in 
command of the Army of the Potomac, and by April 1 



THE CIVIL WAR. 263 

the army was in excellent condition, numbering 100,000 
infantry, 10,000 artillery, 13,000 cavalry and more than 400 
guns. General Lee was at Fredericksburg, Va., with 
62,000 confederates. April 28, Hooker began a move- 
ment with Lee's left as his objective point. To cover his 
real design, however, he dispatched General Stoneman 
with most of the cavalry on a raid to the rear of the con- 
federate army, stationed General Sedgwick with 30,000 
men opposite Fredericksburg and moved with about 70,000 
men toward the United States Ford on the Rappahannock. 

By April 30 Hooker had crossed the Rappahannock 
with the main body of the army, and established his head- 
quarters at a farm-house, called Chancellorsville, eleven 
miles west of Fredericksburg. Fighting began May 1, a 
division of the fifth corps advancing on the road to Fred- 
ericksburg and engaging a confederate advance. The re- 
sult was the recall of Hooker's advance and a better posi- 
tion for the confederates. 

May 2 Lee detached "Stonewall" Jackson with about 
25,000 men to attack the eleventh corps under General 
O. O. Howard at the federal right. The attack culminated 
in the evening with a panic in the federal lines. The 
attack was finally repelled, "Stonewall" Jackson having 
been mortally wounded during the night by the fire of 
his own men, who in the darkness mistook him for an 
enemy. The next day. May 3, the contest was renewed 
and resulted in general confederate success. Sedgwick, in 
the meantime, had crossed the Rappahannock, occupied 
the heights behind Fredericksburg, and marched toward 
the confederate rear at Chancellorsville. He was halted 
by a strong force about five o'clock in the afternoon. 
May 4 Lee further reinforced the troops in front of Sedg- 
wick, and the latter was pushed back and recrossed the 
river at night with a loss of 5,000 men. Hooker also re- 



FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

crossed the river during the night of the 4th. The federal 

- s 17,287, of whom 5.919 were prisoners. 1 
killed and 9.7*32 wounded. Thirteen guns and 2C 
muske:s also fell into the hands of the enemy. Lee's loss 

ibout 12. 764. of whom 1.665 were killed. 9,081 wound- 
ed and 2,018 taken prisoners 

Raymond, Miss.— [May 12, 1863]— May 7. 181 Sher- 
man effected a junction with Grant, swelling the force 
about to proceed to the siege of Yicksburg to ' men, 

including infantry, cavalry and artillery. Grant immedi- 
ordered a general movement on two parallel roads 
on the southeast of the Big Black River. McPherson. ad- 
vancing on the road nearest the river, met two brigades 
of the enemy under Gregg and Walker, at Raymond, fif- 
teen miles southwest of Jackson, on May 12. and. after a 
sharp engagement, defeated them. The confederate loss 
was 73 killed. 251 wounded and 190 missing. McPherson 
si ounded and 37 missing, a total of 44% 

Jackson. Miss. — [May 14. 1863] — After the engage- 
ment at Raymond. McPherson's column proceeded toward 
Jackson by way Tiinton. where they destroyed a portion 
of the railroad to prevent supplies being sent to Vicks- 
burg from the Sherman moved along the Raymond 

Road. Within two miles of Jackson, on May 14. both 
columns met the confederates whom General Joseph EL 
Johnston had been collecting to reinforce Pemberton at 

sburg Sherman's and McPherson's corps made the 
attack. They drove Johnston's army through Jackson and 
toward Canton, taking many prisoners. Grant entered the 

it the head of Sherman's column. The union losses 
at Jackson were 43 killed. 251 wounded and 7 missing, a 
tota' :: SC ). The confederates reported a k ss illed, 

wounded and 90C ssing. 
Champion Hills. Miss. — "May 16. 1563] — Sherman was 



THE CIVIL WAR. 565 

directed to remain at Jackson to destroy everything that 
could be of value to the enemy, and Grant turned toward 
the west. General John C. Pemberton had left Vicksburg 
with 25,000 men, hoping to cut off Grant from his supplies 
and form a junction with Johnston's forces. Learning the 
strength and position of the enemy. Grant ordered Sher- 
man and McPherson to leave Jackson and hasten forward. 
On the morning of May 16, 1863, Pemberton's army was 
encountered at Champion Hills, a precipitous narrow, 
wooden ridge, twenty-five miles west of Jackson, and 
twenty east of Vicksburg. They were strongly posted, 
and it was necessary for the federal troops to approach 
the position across open fields exposed to the fire of the 
batteries of artillery. Hovey's division and McPherson's 
corps, with the exception of Ramsey's division, which did 
not arrive till the battle was over, began the attack in 
front, while Logan's division was working to the left and 
rear. The battle was hotly contested, and the confederates 
were driven back with heavy loss. Grant's losses were 
410 killed, 1,844 wounded and 1ST missing, a total of 
2.441. The confederate losses were 3 SO killed, 1,013 
wounded and 2.441 captured or missing. 

Big Black, Miss. — [May 17. 1863] — At daylight on the 
morning of May 17. 1863, the day after the battle of 
Champion Hills. Grant's army pushed on toward Vicks- 
burg. McClernand's corps was in the advance and soon 
came upon. Pemberton's army strongly entrenched on the 
west side of the Big Black River. The confederate bat- 
teries were posted on the high bluffs, and to gain them it 
was necessary for the federals to cross the river and a 
bayou, separated by a level space of about a mile in 
width. This space was within range of the rifle pits along 
the bayou, as well as the guns on the bluffs. The assault 
was led bv Lawler's brigade of Carr's division of McCler- 



266 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

nand's corps. Lawler moved along under cover of the 
river bank until he gained a point from which the confed- 
erate position, or the bayou, could be successfully assault- 
ed. One volley was fired and then, without reloading, the 
position was carried with the bayonet. Seventeen pieces 
of artillery and about 1,200 prisoners were here taken. A 
portion of Pemberton's outposts crossed the river on tem- 
porary bridges, which they destroyed behind them, and 
joined the main body of the army in the retreat into the 
fortifications at Vicksburg. The federal loss in the en- 
gagement was 39 killed, 237 wounded and 3 missing, a 
total of 279. The confederates reported 50 killed, 200 
wounded and 2,000 missing and prisoners. 

Vicksburg, Miss., Siege and Capture of — [May 19- 
July 4, 1863]— The night after the battle of the Big Black r 
May 17, 1863, McPherson's and McClernand's corps 
crossed the river on floating bridges made of bales of 
cotton and plank, and Sherman, who carried the only pon- 
toon train in the army, crossed at Bridgeport, a few miles 
above, and the whole army moved on Vicksburg. Sher- 
man, still holding the right, marched toward the Yazoo 
River, and on the 19th rested his right on the Mississippi 
within plain view of Porter's gunboats. McPherson fol- 
lowed Sherman with the seventeenth army corps, halting 
where the latter had turned off. McClernand came up by 
the Jackson road and deployed to the left, and the invest- 
ment of Vicksburg was thus completed by May 19, 1863. 

At this time Grant's army was about 30,000 strong. The 
force was increased to nearly 70,000 during the siege. 
The confederate garrison consisted of about 25,000 men 
and 102 guns, under Generals Stephenson, Forney, Smith 
and Bowen. The fortifications were bastioned earth- 
works. The place was provisioned for two months. On 
the afternoon of the 19th Grant ordered a general assault. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 267 

It was repulsed with a loss to the federals of 157 killed, 
777 wounded and 8 missing, a total of 942. Three days 
later, on the 22d, he made another assault, and the as- 
sailants succeeded in planting their flags on the outer 
slopes of the bastions, but the place was found to be too 
strong to be taken by assault. The federal losses during 
this day's fighting were 502 killed, 2,550 wounded and 147 
missing, a total of 3,199. During the skirmishing on the 
18th, 20th and 21st of May, the federal loss was 45 killed, 
194 wounded and 2 missing. Porter assisted in the attack 
by a constant fire from his gunboats and mortar boats. 
Pemberton soon began to feel the effects of the siege. By 
the end of May his meat ration was reduced one-half, and 
when the bacon supply was exhausted mule flesh was 
issued. There were no signs of reinforcements, and 6,000 
men lay sick and wounded in the hospitals and private 
houses. Some of his men had been in the trenches forty- 
seven days and nights. They were now constantly ex- 
posed to the bursting shells and the deadly fire of sharp- 
shooters. 

July 4, 1863, Vicksburg was surrendered to Grant. The 
entire garrison were paroled. They were allowed to de- 
part with rations to last them beyond the national lines. 
The results of the campaign were the defeat of the enemy 
in five battles outside of Vicksburg, the occupation of the 
capital of the state of Mississippi, the capture of Vicksburg 
with its garrison and munitions of war sufficient for an 
army of 60,000, a loss to the confederates of 37,000 pris- 
oners, including 15 generals, about 10,000 killed and 
wounded, the killed including Generals Tracy, Tilghman 
and Green. Grant's losses in the campaign from the first 
skirmish at Port Gibson, May 1, to the surrender of Vicks- 
burg, were 1,511 killed, 7,396 wounded and 453 missing, 
a total of 9,360. 



268 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Port Hudson, La., Surrender of— [July 9, 1863]— As 
early as August, 1862, the confederates began to fortify 
Port Hudson, a point on the Mississippi River in Louisi- 
ana at the terminus of the Clinton & Port Hudson Rail- 
road, twenty-five miles above Baton Rouge and 147 above 
New Orleans. Dec. 14, 1862, Major General N. P. Banks 
took command of the Department of the Gulf, and in 
March, 1863, made a demonstration against Port Hudson, 
while Farragut ran the batteries with two of his vessels 
to assist Porter in the naval investment of Vicksburg. 
May 22, 1863, Banks again invested Port Hudson, and 
was reinforced by Major-General Augur, Brigadier-Gen- 
eral T. W. Sherman and General Weitzel, increasing his 
forces to 12,000 men. An unsuccessful assault was made 
on the 27th, which showed the place to be strongly fortified 
and ably defended by General Gardner. Banks lost some 
1,995 men in the assaults, 203 of whom were killed, 1,545 
wounded and 157 missing. June 14, a second assault was 
made after a bombardment of several days by Farragut's 
fleet. This was also repulsed with a loss of 700 in killed 
and wounded. Banks now determined to thoroughly in- 
vest the place by a series of irresistible approaches. By 
July 6, when the news of the surrender of Vicksburg 
reached Port Hudson, Gardner was too hard pressed to 
hold out much longer, and, July 9, on confirmation of the 
news, surrendered with 6,000 men and fifty-one guns. 

Milliken's Bend, La. — [June 6, 1863] — During the op- 
erations before Vicksburg Grant had withdrawn troops 
from all the posts within his reach to strengthen his 
army. The fort at Milliken's Bend, on the Mississippi 
River in Louisiana, was left in charge of a small garrison, 
mostly negroes. June 6, 1863, the place was attacked by 
a party of Louisiana confederates under General H. Mc- 
Culloch, with cries of no quarter to negroes and officers 



THE CIVIL WAR. 269 

of negro troops, and might have been successful in their 
assault but for the opportune arrival of the gunboats Choc- 
taw and Lexington, which drove them off. The federal 
loss was 118 killed and 310 wounded. 

Brandy Station, or Fleetwood— [June 9, 1863]— After 
the battle of Chancellorsville Hooker's army remained in- 
active on the north side of the Rappahannock for about a 
month. June 9, two divisions of cavalry, supported by 
two brigades of infantry, were sent across the river to see 
what confederate movements were under way. General 
Pleasanton was in charge of the expedition and the cavalry 
was commanded by Generals Buford and Gregg. They 
were driven back after the loss of 500 men in one of the 
most extensive cavalry rights of the civil war. The only 
practical result of the expedition was the discovery that 
Lee's infantry was moving north by way of Culpeper. 

Here also General Buford, with his division of cavalry 
met the confederate general, Stuart, August 1, 1863, and 
compelled him to retreat until reinforced, when Buford 
in turn fell back. Between the 10th and 16th of October, 
1863, desultory fighting with both cavalry and infantry 
occurred in the vicinity of Brandy Station. The federal 
losses were reported as 81 killed, 463 wounded and 382 
missing, a total of 866. The confederates lost 51 killed, 
250 wounded and 222 missing, a total of 523. 

Winchester, Va.— [June 15, 1863]— After Hooker's de- 
feat at Chancellorsville, May 4, 1863, the confederate 
movement gained new hope and inspiration. The south- 
ern citizens and soldiers clamored for an invasion of the 
free states, and the peace sentiment in the north grew 
bolder. Hooker's army lay on the north side of the Rap- 
pahannock, reduced now by discharges and desertions to 
80,000. Lee's army, on the contrary, was fast increasing 
under the confederate conscription act, and had never 



270 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

been better clothed or fed, or more competent of success. 
It numbered 105,000 men and was divided into three corps 
— Longstreet's, consisting of the divisions of Pickett, 
McLaws and Hood; A. P. Hill's, consisting of Anderson, 
Heth and Pender; and Ewell's, of Rhodes, early and 
Johnson. The cavalry was under Stuart and the artillery, 
280 guns, under Pendleton. 

June 3, 1863, Lee's army was put in motion toward the 
north by way of the Shenandoah Valley. At Winchester 
General Milroy was stationed with a force of 7,000 union 
soldiers, which were thought sufficient to hold the place 
against all the confederates known to be in the Valley. 
June 11, Milroy received orders to fall back upon Harper's 
Ferry. He delayed compliance until the 15th, when he 
found himself almost surrounded by the combined corps 
of Longstreet and Ewell. An artillery fight was main- 
tained all day, and at night the divided and scattered 
troops of Milroy retreated to the Potomac River, having 
lost 95 men killed, 348 wounded and 4,000 missing, twenty- 
nine guns, 277 wagons and 400 horses. The confederate 
loss was reported as 47 killed, 219 wounded and 3 missing, 
a total of 269. June 25, 2,700 of the scattered command 
were collected in Pennsylvania. 

Gettysburg, Pa. — [July 1-3, 1863] — In response to the 
general demand of the confederates for an invasion of the 
free states, General Lee, in the early days of June, 1863, 
started his army on the northward march into Pennsyl- 
vania. Passing up the Shenandoah Valley by way of 
Winchester, he crossed the Potomac at Williamsport and 
Shepardstown, arriving in Hagerstown, Md., with a force 
of 87,000 men and 280 guns. By June 27 Lee had reached 
Chambersburg, Pa., with Longstreet's and Hill's corps, 
Ewell having pushed on as far as Carlisle and York. 

While the confederates moved up the west side of the 



THE CIVIL WAR. 271 

Blue Ridge Mountains, Hooker marched along the east 
side, keeping always between his adversary and Washing- 
ton. Hooker's army had been reduced by discharges and 
desertions to about 80,000, and, perceiving the inferiority 
of his force, he asked for the 11,000 men at Harper's Ferry. 
This, Halleck, who was in command of all the armies of 
the union, refused, and Hooker resigned. He was succeed- 
ed June 28 by General George G. Meade. Meade was re- 
inforced by 15,000 men from Washington, 2,100 from the 
Middle Department, and granted the privilege of calling 
upon the 11,000 at Harper's Ferry, making the two 
armies thus advancing to battle on northern soil, numer- 
ically equal. Lee, learning on June 28 that Meade was 
just across the South Mountain, and fearing the latter 
might attempt to cut off his communications with the 
Potomac by an advance through the mountain gaps in his 
rear, determined upon an eastward movement. Meade 
surmised that Lee would attempt a movement south on 
the east side of the South Mountain, and prepared to meet 
him and give battle at Pipe Creek near Taneytown, Md., 
fifteen miles southeast of Gettysburg, and about twelve 
miles north of the boundary between Pennsylvania and 
Maryland. The left wing of the army, consisting of the 
first, eleventh and third corps, commanded respectively by 
Generals Reynolds, Howard and Sickles, was sent for- 
ward to Gettysburg to mask the Pipe Creek movement. 
On the morning of July 1, 1863, Buford's cavalry, which 
had moved west of Gettysburg on the Chambersburg 
Road, encountered the confederate advance under Hill 
and Heth, and were driven back to Seminary Ridge, west 
of the town. The corps was scarcely placed in line of 
battle when General Reynolds was mortally wounded and 
the command of the field devolved upon Howard. He 
was later in the day superseded in command of the field 



272 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

by General Hancock. During the afternoon Ewell's corps 
and two-thirds of Hill's 50,000 men reinforced the con- 
federates and drove Reynolds's and Howard's corps to 
Cemetery Hill, south of the town, inflicting upon them a 
loss of nearly 10,000 men and sixteen guns. On the ad- 
vice of Hancock, Meade moved the whole army forward 
during the night and occupied Cemetery Hill. The fight- 
ing strength of the two armies was now about 80,000 men 
each. Lee's army was posted along Seminary Ridge, west 
of the town. 

July 2 the fighting of both armies was directed toward 
securing good positions, and closed with the advantage 
on the union side, but at a cost of 10,000 men. Of these 
three-fifths belonged to Sickles, who lost half his men. 
The confederate losses must have been greater. 

July 3, the day of the decisive action, opened with slight 
skirmishing. After noon a heavy cannonade was kept up 
between the two armies for two hours. About three 
o'clock in the afternoon the confederate right, numbering 
18,000 men under Pickett, made a grand assault. It went 
desperately forward in the face of a terrible fire and met 
with complete destruction. Companies and regiments 
threw down their arms and rushed forward to be taken 
prisoners out of the horrible fire. Hay's division took 
2,000 prisoners and fifteen colors; Gibbon's division took 
2,500 prisoners and twelve colors. The charge on the 
left was under Pettigrew. It was not so fiercely made, 
nor so stubbornly met. The assailants were mostly raw 
recruits. On the morning of July 1 they mustered 2,800 
strong; at roll call on the 4th only 835 responded. 

The entire federal losses at Gettysburg were 3,070 killed, 
14,497 wounded and 5,434 missing, a total of 23,001. The 
confederate losses footed up, according to official reports, 
to a total of 20,448, of whom 2,592 were killed, 12,706 




H 
O 
O 

o 

c 
w 

H 
H 



THE CIVIL WAR. 273 

wounded and 5,150 taken prisoners. This report does not 
include the artillery losses. The records of prisoners of 
war in the office of the Adjutant-General of the United 
States Army bear the names of 12,227 confederates cap- 
tured by the union forces at and about Gettysburg, July 1- 
5, 1863. 

Helena, Ark., Assault on— [July 4, 1863]— To strength- 
en the army before Vicksburg, Grant had withdrawn troops 
from all the nearby posts. Helena, Ark., about seventy- 
five miles below Memphis, on the Mississippi River, was 
left in charge of 3,800 men under General B. M. Prentiss. 
June 26 the confederate generals, T. H. Holmes and 
Sterling Price left Little Rock with about 8,000 men, to 
surprise and capture the place. July 4, 1863, the day 
Vicksburg surrendered, they made an assault on one of 
the batteries with 3,000 men. They were repulsed with 
a loss of 2,111 men. Four regiments assaulted a fort on 
Hindman Hill, but were repulsed with great loss. A third 
assault was made by Marmaduke with 1,750 men upon a 
fort on the north side of the place, but was likewise re- 
pulsed with a loss of 1,590 of the assailants, of whom 173 
were killed, 645 wounded and 772 missing. Of the fed- 
erals 57 were killed, 146 wounded and 36 missing, a total 
of 239. 

Fort Wagner, S. C— [April 7-July 11, 18-Sept. 5, 6, 
1863] — In order to test the efficacy of monitors and iron- 
clads against land fortifications, Admiral Dupont attempt- 
ed to force the defenses of Charleston Harbor with a fleet 
of such vessels. April 7, 1863, he started to attack Fort 
Sumter. His fleet consisted of seven Ericsson monitors, 
the frigate Ironsides, partially ironclad, and the Keokuk, 
a frailer ironclad. He carried thirty-two guns. The op- 
posing forts mounted 300 guns. The expedition signally 
failed. 



274 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

June 12 General Gillmore was placed in command of 
an expedition against Fort Sumter. His force consisted 
of 11,500 men, sixty-six guns and thirty mortars. Admiral 
Dahlgren was to co-operate with him with the frigate 
Ironsides and six monitors. Gillmore's intention was to 
capture Fort Wagner, on Morris Island, and then proceed 
against Sumter. 

July 10, 1863, a combined sea and land attack was made 
on that place. Gillmore advanced within musket range 
of Fort Wagner, but delayed the assault till the next day, 
when it was repulsed. In the operations of the day Gill- 
more lost 49 men killed and 123 wounded; the confederates 
6 killed and 6 wounded. July 18 another attempt was 
made to reduce the place, but it was completely repulsed 
with a loss of 1,515—246 killed, 880 wounded and 389 
missing. 

Gillmore now determined to approach Wagner by a 
series of parallel trenches. The first was opened July 24, 
and the third August 9. Beauregard was in command of 
Fort Sumter with twice the number which assailed him. 
August 17 Gillmore opened on the fort. By the 23d Sum- 
ter was battered to ruins. Additional parallels were opened 
toward Fort Wagner and a ceaseless cannonade kept up. 
Final operations began Sept. 5, with seventeen siege and 
Coehorn mortars, thirteen Parrott rifles and the eleven- 
inch shells of the Ironsides. The assault was to have 
been made Sept. 7, but during the previous night the gar- 
rison evacuated the place. Though 122,300 pounds of 
metal were thrown against the place the bomb proofs 
were found intact, thus demonstrating the value of sand 
as a means of defense. 

Morgan's Raid— [June 27- July 26, 1863]— In the sum- 
mer of 1863 the confederate general Buckner was in 
East Tennessee near the borders of Kentucky, preparing 



THE CIVIL WAR. 275 

for an expedition against Louisville. General John H. 
Morgan was ahead with 3,000 cavalry to prepare the way. 
He crossed the Cumberland River and sacked Columbia, 
Ky., and, being joined by about 1,000 Kentuckians, crossed 
the Ohio River into Indiana. The advance of Rosecrans's 
army prevented Buckner from joining him. Morgan rode 
through southern Indiana toward Cincinnati, burning 
bridges, tearing up railroads and fighting home guards. 
The whole state of Ohio was alarmed and a strong union 
force was soon in pursuit. Others were advancing upon 
his flanks, and gunboats were patrolling the Ohio River 
to prevent his recrossing into Kentucky. 

Passing around Cincinnati, almost within sight of the 
city, he reached the river at Buffington Ford, July 19. 
After a severe battle about 800 of the raiders surrendered, 
and Morgan with the remainder fled fourteen miles up 
the river to Belleville. About 300 succeeded in crossing 
the river here before the arrival of the gunboats. Many 
were drowned or shot in attempting to cross, and Morgan, 
with about 200 of his followers, fled further up the river to 
New Lisbon, where he was surrounded and forced to 
surrender. 

Morgan and some of his officers were sent to Columbus 
and confined in the penitentiary, from which he and six 
others escaped by burrowing beneath the walls. Morgan 
in his raid, travelled about 350 miles through Indiana and 
Ohio, making sometimes fifty miles a day. The raiders 
killed 38 men. The amount of property destroyed scarcely 
exceeded $50,000. More than 2,000 of his band were 
killed or captured, and all their accoutrements and plunder 
seized. Immediately after his escape Morgan planned 
another raid into Tennessee, but was surrounded and killed 
by union troops under General Gillem, near Greenville, 
Tenn., Sept. 4, 1864. 



276 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Quantrell's Raid— [August 21, 1863]— After the fall of 
Vicksburg many confederate soldiers were sent to their 
homes in western Missouri. Bands of marauders were 
then organized, who rode audaciously about the country 
maintaining a guerrilla warfare, and plundering and de- 
stroying. The Kansas border was patrolled day and 
night by union scouts, as the people of that state seemed 
to be marked as the special prey of the guerrillas. 
August 20, 1863, a leader named Quantrell gathered about 
300 well-mounted and armed men near the state line, 
and, eluding the scouts, proceeded to Lawrence, Kans., 
about forty miles in the interior. Reaching there on 
August 21, he proceeded to pillage and burn the town and 
to massacre the inhabitants. Banks and stores were 
robbed, 185 buildings were burned, twenty colored soldiers 
were murdered in cold blood under circumstances of 
fiendish atrocity, 140 unarmed men were murdered and 
24 wounded. Major Plumb, with a detachment of cavalry, 
reached the place after the guerrillas had departed, and 
with General Lane and a party of citizens started in pur- 
suit, but only about a hundred of the gang were killed. 

Chickamauga, Ga.— [Sept. 19-20, 1863]— After the bat- 
tle of Stone River, Jan. 2, 1863, Bragg retreated to Shelby- 
ville, Tenn., about twenty-five miles south of Murfrees- 
borough, and to Tullahoma, somewhat further south. 
June 24 Rosecrans advanced from Murfreesboro and 
gradually forced Bragg to evacuate middle Tennessee and 
cross the Tennessee River to Chattanooga. August 19 
Rosecrans's army, in three corps, under Generals George 
H. Thomas, Alexander McD. McCook and Thomas L. 
Crittenden, made an advance through the Cumberland 
Mountains. Sept. 7 and 8 the confederates retired from 
Chattanooga to Lafayette, Ga., about twenty-five miles 
southeast. Longstreet having arrived from Virginia with 



THE CIVIL WAR. 277 

reinforcements for Bragg, Rosecrans concentrated his 
army near Lee and Gordon's Mills on Chickamauga Creek, 
a tributary of the Tennessee. 

On the evening of Sept. 18 the two armies were on op- 
posite sides of Chickamauga Creek. Rosecrans numbered 
55,000 effective fighting men. The five corps under Bragg 
numbered 70,000 men. Bragg crossed the creek with 
30,000 men during the night, and on the morning of the 
19th General Polk, in command of the confederate right 
wing, attacked the federal left under Thomas. The battle 
continued all day without definite results. On the morn- 
ing of the 20th the confederates renewed the attack with 
fresh troops. Longstreet penetrated the centre of the 
federal line and separated Rosecrans, McCook and Crit- 
tenden from the rest of the army and the brunt of the battle 
fell upon Thomas, who here earned the sobriquet of the 
"Rock of Chickamauga." The federals retired at night 
to Rossville, and the night of the 21st to Chattanooga. 
The federal losses in the battle were 1,656 killed, 9,749 
wounded and 4,774 missing, a total of 16,179. No full 
report of the confederate losses was ever made. Careful 
estimates, however, place the number of killed at 2,312, 
wounded 16,674, captured and missing 1,468, making a 
total of 18,454. 

Wauhatchie, Tenn. — [Oct. 29, 1863] — Immediately after 
the battle of Chickamauga, the army of the Cumberland 
fell back to Chattanooga on the 21st and 22d of Septem- 
ber. The confederate army closely followed and occupied 
strong positions on Lookout Mountain and Missionary 
Ridge, south and east of the town respectively. Chatta- 
nooga was thus almost surrounded, but one wagon road 
being available for the transportation of supplies. In this 
emergency Grant was made commander of the combined 
armies of the Cumberland, the Ohio and the Tennessee. 



278 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

General Thomas superseded Rosecrans in command of the 
Army of the Cumberland. General Hooker arrived from 
Bridgeport, Ala., whither he had been sent from the 
Rapidan in Virginia, with the Eleventh and Twelfth army 
corps, 23,000 strong, and Sherman was ordered up from 
Corinth. To open a new route for supplies and prepare 
the way for Sherman's army, grant had a pontoon bridge 
put across the Tennessee River at a point a mile and a half 
due west of Chattanooga and below the bend around Moc- 
casin Point. 

By Oct. 28 Hooker had crossed the bridge and moved 
down the Wauhatchie Valley. The confederates watched 
his movements from Lookout Mountain, and at one o'clock 
the next morning made an attack upon him. After three 
hours' fighting, Hooker repulsed the enemy with a loss of 
75 killed, 300 wounded and 8 missing. The confederate 
loss was reported as 33 killed, 306 wounded and 58 miss- 
ing, a total of 397. 

Lookout Mountain, Tenn.— [Nov. 24, 1863]— The ar- 
rival of the two corps under Hooker and the army of 
Sherman at Chattanooga increased the strength of Grant's 
command to 80,000 men. At this critical time Longstreet, 
with 16,000 men, was detached from the confederate army 
and sent to besiege Burnside at Knoxville, leaving Bragg 
with only about 50,000 men to hold the position. Nov. 24, 
1863, to cover Sherman's crossing the Tennessee River 
and securing a position, Hooker, with 10,000 men, made 
an 'attack on the western slope of Lookout Mountain. 
During a heavy mist he pressed up the mountain-side and 
attacked the position in front and rear, taking 1,300 
prisoners. 

In the afternoon the sun shone out upon the mountain 
top, the misty clouds settled in the valley below, and 
Hooker's fighters pressed impetuously on to victory above 



THE CIVIL WAR. 279 

the clouds, six states spread out before their view, but the 
main body of the army hid in the fog of the valley knew 
only of the progress of the strife by the sound of roaring 
guns. At night the sky cleared and the twinkling fires 
among the stars lit up the camp of union troops. 

Missionary Ridge or Chattanooga, Tenn. — [Nov. 25, 
1863] — After the battle of Lookout Mountain, Bragg's 
army concentrated on Missionary Ridge, across the Chat- 
tanooga Valley and southeast of the town. The next 
morning Sherman attacked the confederate right wing at 
the extreme north end of the ridge. Hooker advanced from 
Lookout Mountain across the valley and attacked the 
right. The battle raged all day, but the confederates held 
the position until late in the afternoon, when the centre 
was weakened by withdrawals to support the left and right. 
It was then that Grant, watching the progress of the fight 
from Orchard Knob, ordered the Army of the Cumber- 
land forward under Thomas. Wood's and Sheridan's 
divisions charged the enemy's centre. The brigades of 
Hazen and Willich were in advance. There were des- 
perate hand-to-hand encounters. Darkness came on, with 
the confederates in retreat. Pursuit was stopped when 
the ridge was won. The confederate loss was more than 
9,000, of whom 6,000 were prisoners. Forty pieces of ar- 
tillery and 7,000 stand of small arms fell into the hands 
of the victors. 

The federal casualties in the Chattanooga campaign be- 
tween Nov. 24 and Nov. 29, 1863, including the skirmishes 
and foot of Missionary Ridge, 24th; battle of Missionary 
at Orchard Knob and Bushy Knob, Lookout Mountain 
Ridge, 25th; skirmishes at Chickamauga Station, Pea Vine 
Valley, Pigeon Hills, Tenn., and near Graysville, Ga., 
26th, and the engagement at Ringgold Gap, Taylor's 
Ridge, Ga., 27th, were 753 killed, 4,722 wounded and 



280 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

349 missing, a total of 5,824. The confederate losses 
were 361 killed, 2,160 wounded and 4,146 missing and cap- 
tured, a total of 6,667. 

Knoxville— [Nov. 16-Dec. 5, 1863]— Sept. 3, 1863, Gen- 
eral Burnside with the Army of the Ohio, occupied Knox- 
ville, Tenn. Upon his advance the confederate general, 
Buckner, evacuated eastern Tennessee and joined Bragg 
at Chattanooga. Early in November Longstreet, with 
16,000 men, was detached from Bragg's army and sent 
to regain possession of Knoxville. Burnside, with 12,000 
men, met Longstreet at Campbell's Station, Tenn., Nov. 16, 
and retarded his advance long enough to concentrate 
his forces in Knoxville. Longstreet laid siege to the town 
and Nov. 18 and 20, made unsuccessful assaults. Mean- 
time Grant had defeated Bragg at Chattanooga, and Sher- 
man, with 25,000 men, was sent to the relief of Burnside. 
Dec. 5, 1863, Longstreet, hearing of the approach of Sher- 
man, raised the siege and retreated toward Virginia. 
Sherman thereupon returned to the line of the Hiawassee, 
leaving two divisions under General Granger to sustain 
Burnside. The losses during the siege were: Federal — 
92 killed, 393 wounded and 202 missing, a total of 687. 
Confederate — 198 killed, 850 wounded and 248 missing, 
a total of 1,296. 

Olustee, Fla.— [Feb. 20, 1864]— In February, 1864, an 
expedition was sent to Florida from Port Royal under 
command of General Truman Seymour. It was composed 
of twenty steamers, eight schooners and about 5,000 
troops. Feb. 7, the expedition occupied Jacksonville. On 
the 18th the forces took up their march inland. On the 
20th they encountered the enemy at Olustee, a railroad 
station about fifty miles west of Jacksonville. 

The battle was unexpected and was fiercely fought from 
two o'clock till dark, when the vanquished federals retired 



THE CIVIL WAR. 281 

20 miles to Barbers. Seymour lost 1,861 men, 203 killed, 
1,152 wounded and 506 missing, as well as five pieces of 
artillery in this disastrous fight, and the expedition re- 
turned to Hilton Head. The confederate loss was reported 
as 93 killed, 847 wounded and 6 missing, a total of 946. 

Sabine Cross Roads, La.— [April 8, 1864]— March 25, 
1864, an expedition up the Red River in Louisiana was 
undertaken. General Banks's army, under command of 
General Franklin, was concentrated at Alexandria, La. 
It advanced by way of Natchitoches, Pleasant Hill, and 
Mansfield toward Shreveport. April 8, arriving at Sabine 
Cross Roads, on the Sabine River, Banks' army encoun- 
tered the confederate general, Kirby Smith, with about 
20,000 men. A battle ensued in which Banks was forced 
to retreat with a loss of 3,517 men, of whom 258 were 
killed, 1,487 wounded, and 1,772 missing. The confeder- 
ates captured 19 guns and an immense amount of ammuni- 
tion and stores, with a total loss to themselves of 1,304. 

Pleasant Hill, La.— [April 9, 1864]— After the defeat 
of the federal army under General Banks at Sabine Cross 
Roads, April 8, 1864, it retreated by way of Pleasant 
Grove, to Pleasant Hill, about 18 miles south, where 
Banks was joined by General A. J. Smith with 1,000 men. 
Occupying a strong position here, the federals awaited 
the pursuing force under Kirby Smith and Dick Taylor. 
April 9, about four o'clock in the afternoon the confeder- 
ates came, up and began the attack. In the battle which 
ensued they were checked, and some of the guns they had 
taken the day before at Sabine Cross Roads were re- 
taken. Banks now returned to the Red River at Grand 
Ecore, having lost in the campaign eighteen guns, 5,000 
men, 130 wagons, 1,200 horses and many small arms. 

Fort Pillow, Tenn., Massacre at— [April 12, 1864] — 
March 23, 1864, the confederate general, Forrest, with 



282 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

10,000 cavalrymen, captured Jackson, Tenn. He then 
moved northward and demanded the surrender of Padu- 
cah, Ky., which was held by Colonel Hicks with 650 men. 
Forrest made three assaults upon this place and then re- 
tired, having lost 1,500 men. 

April 12, he appeared before Fort Pillow, Tenn., on 
Chicksaw Bluff, overlooking the Mississippi, forty miles 
above Memphis. This place was garrisoned by 19 officers 
and 538 men, of whom 262 were negroes. Major Booth, 
the commanding officer was killed in the attack. While 
negotiations for surrender were in progress the confeder- 
ates advanced to advantageous positions before the fort. 
Upon the refusal of Major Bradford, who had succeeded 
Booth in command, to agree to Forrest's terms of sur- 
render, they sprang forward and the fort was instantly 
carried. The garrison threw down their arms and fled. 
They were pursued and murdered wherever found. The 
fugitives were dragged from hiding and subjected to bar- 
barous tortures, regardless of age, sex, or color. Some 
were even nailed to the floors and walls of houses and 
burned. Between 300 and 400 are known to have been 
killed, at least 300 after the surrender. Of those who 
escaped death at the fort many perished while attempting 
to gain the union lines. 

Wilderness, Va.— [May 5, 6, 1864]— March 2, 1864, the 
rank of lieutenant general was revived, and on the 9th 
General Grant was appointed to this position, and given 
the command, under the President, of all the armies of the 
United States. Sherman acted immediately under him, 
and the two outlined the future plan of campaign. It was 
agreed to make a simultaneous advance against Lee's 
army in Virginia and that of Johnston in Georgia. Meade 
was left in command of the Army of the Potomac, and 
Sheridan was placed in command of the cavalry in Vir- 



THE CIVIL WAR. 283 

ginia. General B. F. Butler was placed in command of the 
Army of the James, consisting of 38,648 men and ninety 
guns. 

May 4, 1864, Grant crossed the Rapidan with the Army 
of the Potomac, aggregating 116,000 men and 316 guns, 
and proceeded against Lee. The latter lay on the south 
bank of the Rapidan, 60,000 to 70,000 strong. Lee's posi- 
tion was in the midst of a wilderness of scraggy oaks, sas- 
safras, hazel and pine. It is a region of worn out tobacco 
fields, and lies directly west of where the battle of Chan- 
cellorsville was fought, just one year before. It was not 
Grant's intention to attack Lee here, but the confederate's 
attack compelled it. Early on the morning of May 5 
the fight began, and at night the result was still in doubt. 
Lee had failed to defeat Grant by attacking his flank, and 
Grant was now presenting his front. Early on the morn- 
ing of the 6th the confederates renewed the attack. The 
battle was a bloody bush fight; more than 200,000 men 
fought in a vast jungle. Grant's losses amounted to nearly 
20,000, of whom about 5,000 were prisioners. The confed- 
erate loss was 10,000, of whom but few were captured. 
The morning of the 7th showed that the confederates had 
fallen behind their entrenchments and Grant resolved to 
turn Lee's left flank and put his army between the latter 
and Richmond. On the night of the 7th, the federal army 
took up the march toward Spottsylvania Court House. 

The federal losses at the battle of the Wilderness, in- 
cluding the conflicts at Parker's Store, Craig's Meeting 
House, Brock Road, Todd's Tavern, and the neighboring 
furnaces, were officially reported as 2,246 killed, 12,037 
wounded and 3,383 missing, a total of 17,666. 

Spottsylvania Court House — [May 9, 10, 11, 12-21, 
1864] — After two days' fighting in the Wilderness south 
of the Rapidan River in Virginia, Grant attempted to turn 



284 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Lee's right flank and advance toward Richmond by way 
of Spottsylvania Court House. Lee discovered the move- 
ment and reached Spottsylvania first. By May 9, 1864, 
Grant had his army concentrated near Spottsylvania. 
Hancock commanded the right, Warren the centre, and 
Sedgwick the left. The latter was killed while placing 
his artillery on the 9th, and General Wright succeeded 
him in command of the sixth army corps. May 10th and 
11th there was desultory fighting, skirmishing and ma- 
noeuvring for positions. Grant's losses during the 10th 
were supposed to exceed 10,000 men, and Lee's were sup- 
posed to be equally severe; 5,000 confederate prisoners 
were captured on this day. 

The morning of May 12 opened with an advance By 
Hancock's column, which surrounded and captured an en- 
tire division of 3,000 confederates, including two generals 
and between thirty and forty guns. The fighting of this day 
was as severe as any during the war. Lee made five fu- 
rious assaults in quick succession, with the view of dis- 
lodging Hancock and Wright. From dawn till dusk the 
tempest of fire raged in the forest, and 10,000 men on each 
side went down before the rain of shot and shell. The 
result was the capture of a salient angle of the confederate 
works. After several days of manoeuvring and having 
received reinforcements enough to make up for his losses, 
Grant, on the 20th and 21st of May, moved southward to- 
ward the North Anna River. The federal losses in the 
battle of Spottsylvania Court House, including the conflicts 
at Todd's Tavern, Corbin's Bridge, Alsop's Farm. Laurel 
Hill, Po River, Nye River, the angle of the salient, Piney 
Branch Church, Harris's Farm and Guiney's Station, be- 
tween May 8 and 21, 1864. were officially reported as 2,725 
killed, 13,416 wounded and 2,258 missing, a total of 18,399. 

North Anna Crossing— [May 23-27. 1864] — Proceeding 



THE CIVIL WAR. 285 

southward after the battle of Spottsylvania, Grant's army 
arrived at the North Anna River May 23, 1864. Warren, 
whose corps was on the right, and the sixth corps 
(Wright's), crossed the river at Jericho Ford that night. 
Hancock crossed at a point four miles below. Lee, mean- 
time, had taken up a position south of the North Anna, 
and his left wing rested on the river at a point between the 
two sections of Grant's army. Burnside's corps was un- 
able to cross the river. Lee's position was impregnable, 
and Grant was compelled to withdraw his army to the 
north side of the river after a loss of 168 killed, 942 wound- 
ed and 165 missing, a total of 1,293. May 27, having been 
rejoined by Sheridan, the Army of the Potomac moved 
toward the Pamunky River. 

Petersburg, Va., Operations Against — [May 13-July 30, 
1864] — When Grant crossed the Rapidan May 4, 1864, 
with the Army of the Potomac, to operate against 
Lee, he ordered General Butler, with the Army of the 
James, to proceed up the James River toward Richmond. 
Butler's army consisted of the 10th and 18th army corps 
under Generals Gillmore and W. F. Smith, and numbered 
38,648 officers and men, and ninety guns. May 5 he occu- 
pied City Point and Bermuda Hundred, eighteen miles 
southeast of Richmond. On the evening of May 13 and 
the morning of the 14th he carried a portion of the first 
line of defenses of Richmond at Fort Darling and Drewry's 
Bluff. In this action the federal losses were 390 killed, 
2,380 wounded and 1,390 missing, a total of 4,160. The 
confederates lost 355 killed, 1,941 wounded and 210 miss- 
ing, a total of 2,506. In the trenches before Petersburg 
between June 15 and Sept. 1, 1864, the federals lost 2,149 
killed, 10,606 wounded and 1,481 missing, a total of 14,236. 
On the 16th Butler was attacked and driven back to Ber- 
muda Hundred. 



286 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

June 10 Butler sent a force under Gillmore and Kautz 
against Petersburg. The cavalry entered the town but 
were driven back, and the expedition returned to Bermuda 
Hundred. 

June 15, after a march of fifty-five miles from Cold Har- 
bor in two days, Grant was ready to cross the James. The 
army of 130,000 men crossed by pontoon bridge in three 
days. The two armies were now united, and prepared for 
final operations against Richmond. The first step toward 
taking Richmond seemed to be the occupation of Peters- 
burg, twenty-two miles to the south, on the Richmond & 
Petersburg Railroad. June 15 an attack was made on 
Petersburg by W. F. Smith's corps. The assaults were 
continued for four days. Reinforcements were sent from 
Richmond to defend the place, and the attempts cost Grant 
9,000 men. 

During part of June and all of July fighting was almost 
continuous in the Petersburg entrenchments. A powder 
mine had been dug beneath portions of the works and it 
was intended to explode this and make an assault through 
the breach so made. The mine was charged with 8,000 
pounds of powder, and at four o'clock A. M. July 
30, 1864, was exploded. A confederate battery and most 
of a regiment were blown up. The assault, which was de- 
signed to be made by 50,000 men under Burnside, Warren 
and Ord, was a total failure on account of mismanagement, 
and 4,000 men were lost. 

Resaca, Ga.— [May 14, 15, 1864]— March 14, 1864, Sher- 
man was placed in command of the military division of the 
Army of the Mississippi, which was composed of the Army 
of the Cumberland, under Major-General Thomas ; the 
Army of Tennessee, under Major-General McPherson, and 
the Army of the Ohio, under Major-General Schofield, and 
numbered a total of 98,797 men and 254 guns. The con- 



THE CIVIL WAR. 287 

federate forces under General Johnston were estimated 
at 60,000. After the battle of Chattanooga the confederates 
had retreated to Dalton, Ga., thirty-nine miles southeast 
of Chattanooga and ninety-nine miles northwest of Atlanta. 
May 4, Sherman made a demonstration in front of the con- 
federate position on Rocky Face Mountain, northeast of 
Dalton, while McPherson, with some 40,000 men, attempt- 
ed to turn the confederate left and occupy Resaca. John- 
ston thereupon evacuated Dalton and fell back upon Res- 
aca. Polk was posted on Johnston's left, resting on the 
Oostanaula River, Hardee in the centre and Hood on the 
right. Sherman laid a pontoon bridge across the Oostan- 
aula, and sent a division across to threaten Johnston's con- 
nections with Rome, while the main body of the army 
pressed Resaca in front. 

May 14, an attack by a portion of Sherman's force was 
repulsed with a loss of 1,000 men. Johnston attempted to 
turn Sherman's left flank, which gave McPherson a good 
position, to recover which the confederates fought stub- 
bornly till ten o'clock that night. Skirmishing was renewed 
the next morning and continued all day. During the night 
Johnston was again forced to retreat. Sherman's losses 
during the two days were 600 killed, 2,147 wounded and 
253 missing, a total of 3,000. Johnston's losses aggre- 
gated 1,642, of whom 226 were killed, and 1,416 wounded. 

Pumpkin Vine Creek or New Hope Church, Ga. — [May 
25, 1864] — When General Johnston withdrew the confed- 
erate forces from Resaca, Ga., May 16, 1864, he retired by 
way of Cassville across the Etowah and occupied a strong 
position commanding Allatoona Pass. May 23 Sherman 
crossed the Etowah and moved toward Dallas. Hooker, 
with the twentieth army corps moving from Burnt Hickory 
toward Dallas May 25, encountered a force of confederate 
cavalry at Pumpkin Vine Creek. They were driven across 



288 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

the stream, and about two miles to the eastward encoun- 
tered Johnston's entire army. Here a severe battle took 
place and the confederates were driven back and secured 
another good position from Dallas to Marietta. Johnston 
estimated his loss in these operations at 150 men killed 
and 1,450 wounded, a total of 1,600. The federal loss was 
120 killed, 800 wounded and 80 missing, a total of 1,000. 

Cold Harbor, Va.— [June 1, 2, 3, 1864]— Finding Lee's 
position on the North Anna too strong, Grant, by a skil- 
ful night movement, turned Lee's right wing and crossed 
the Pamunky River at Hanover town, and after consider- 
able fighting reached Cold Harbor to the northeast of 
Richmond. Lee had arrived here before the federal army 
and was well entrenched. In the afternoon of June 1, 1864, 
an attack on the confederate lines was made. It resulted 
in a loss of 2,000 men to the federals and no advantage in 
position. June 2 was spent in skirmishing for position. 
At daylight June 3, a general assault was made on the con- 
federate lines, but was repulsed in half an hour's fighting 
with a loss of 7,000 men to Grant and half that number to 
Lee. For the next ten days the two armies lay confront- 
ing each other. June 12 Grant decided to approach 
Richmond from the south. Accordingly the army passed 
from the Chickahominy to the James River, between the 
12th and 15th of June, and took up the line of march to 
Petersburg. The federal losses in the operations at Cold 
Harbor, including the conflict at Bethesda Church and 
the march across the Chickahominy and James rivers to 
the front of Petersburg, was officially reported as 1,845 
killed, 9,077 wounded and 1,816 missing, a total of 12,738. 

Weldon Railroad, Va., Seizure and Destruction of — 
[June 21, August 18, 25, 1864] — During Grant's operations 
against Petersburg and Richmond, Va., attempts were 
made to capture the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad, an 



THE CIVIL WAR. 289 

important supply line of the confederate army. The second 
and sixth corps, under Generals Birney and Wright, cut 
the telegraph wires three miles south of Petersburg 
June 21, but were repulsed with a loss of seven guns and 
many prisoners. The attempt was a failure and cost Grant 
4,000 men. 

Another and successful attack on this road was made 
August 18, 1864. Lee had drawn heavily from his forces 
in Petersburg to resist a threatened attack on the north 
side of Richmond. The fifth army corps under General 
Warren, moved from its position at the extreme left of 
Grant's army, and struck the railroad four miles below 
Petersburg. Mahone's division of Lee's army attempted 
to force him back, but he held his position with a loss after 
three days' fighting, of 4,543 men. By the 24th, seven 
miles of railroad were destroyed. August 25th, the second 
army corps and Gregg's cavalry while at Ream's Station 
destroying the railroad, were attacked, and after desperate 
fighting a part of the line gave way after losing five guns 
and 2,400 men, three-fourths of whom were missing. 

Kenesaw Mountain — [June 27, 1864] — Between the 1st 
and 6th of June, 1864, Sherman gradually moved his army 
so as to envelope Allatoona Pass. This compelled John- 
ston to withdraw from his strongly entrenched positions 
at New Hope Church and Ackworth. Allatoona Pass 
was then made a depot of supplies, and June 8 General 
Blair joined Sherman with two divisions of the seventeenth 
corps and a brigade of cavalry, raising his effective force 
to its original strength of 98,000. Sherman then advanced 
toward the Kenesaw Mountain, and on June 14 an 
artillery duel took place in which confederate General Polk 
was killed. On the 15th and 17th of June the confederates 
retired from Pine Mountain and Lost Mountain, and thor- 
oughly entrenched themselves on Kenesaw Mountain. 



290 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

June 27, two assaults on the confederates' position were 
simultaneously made; one by Thomas and the other by 
McPherson. Both were repulsed. Nothing now remained 
for Sherman but to turn the position. July 2, the whole 
army was put in motion toward the Chattahooche. The 
confederates immediately abandoned their position on the 
mountain and retired to the river. Sherman's loss at the 
attacks on Kenesaw Mountain aggregated 4,200 men, of 
whom 908 were killed, including Generals Harker and 
McCook, 2,634 wounded and 658 missing. The confed- 
erate loss was only 442. 

Monocacy, Md. — [July 9, 1864] — General Hunter suc- 
ceeded Sigel in command of the forces in the Shenandoah 
Valley in June, 1864. The confederate general, Early, was 
detached from Lee's army at Richmond and sent to rein- 
force Breckinridge, who commanded the confederate 
forces in the valley. Hunter retired westward across the 
mountains, leaving Washington unprotected. Lee there- 
upon reinforced Early, increasing his strength to 20,000 
and ordered him to threaten Washington, in the hope of 
compelling Grant to withdraw some of the troops before 
Richmond and Petersburg. The sixth corps under Wright 
was sent to defend Washington with the ninteenth corps, 
which arrived from Hampton Roads. July 6th, Early 
reached Hagerstown and moved a strong column toward 
Frederick. Hereupon General Lewis Wallace advanced 
from Baltimore with a force of 6,000 men. He encountered 
Early at Monocacy, Md., July 9, and for eight hours 
successfully resisted his advance, but was finally defeated 
with a loss of 123 killed, 603 wounded and 568 missing, a 
total of 1,294. This action served to retard Early's prog- 
ress long enough to permit Wright to reach Washington 
with the sixth corps and part of the nineteenth. July 10, 
Early was within six miles of Washington. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 291 

Peach Tree Creek— [July 20, 1864]— July 17, 1864, 
Sherman's army advanced across the Chattahooche River 
and Johnston fell back toward Atlanta. Just at this time 
Johnston was superseded in comand of the southern army 
by General John B. Hood. Before the federal forces could 
be brought into line of battle before Atlanta they were at- 
tacked by Hood's army near Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 
1864. The attack fell mainly upon Newton's division of 
the fourteenth corps. After a severe battle the confederates 
were driven back into their intrenchments, leaving upon 
the field 500 dead, 1,000 wounded, seven stands of colors 
and many prisoners. From this Sherman estimated the 
enemy's loss at not less than 3,000. His own loss was 310 
killed, 1,110 wounded and 179 missing, a total of 2,200. 

Atlanta, Ga.— [July 22, 1864]— On the night of July 21, 
1864, General Hood transferred his forces before Atlanta 
to a point near Decatur, about five miles east of Atlanta. 
Sherman came up and found the works on Peach Tree 
Creek abandoned, and proceeded to invest the city. At 
eleven A. M. of the 22d, Hood surprised the left wing 
of Sherman's army under McPherson, by a sudden move- 
ment from Decatur. The whole line was soon engaged. 
General McPherson was killed in the action, and the com- 
mand of the Army of the Tennessee devolved upon Gen- 
eral Logan. After four hours of fighting the confederates 
retired into their main works about Atlanta, leaving their 
dead and wounded on the field. One thousand prisoners 
were taken. The total confederate loss here and at Peach 
Tree Creek on the 20th was reported as 1,341 killed, 7,500 
wounded. The federal loss was 860 killed, 2,141 wounded 
and 1,199 missing, a total of 4,200. Sherman now drew 
his lines closely around Atlanta and prepared for a siege 
but was unable to cut off supplies from Macon, and on 
August 25 gave up the idea of a direct siege. Sept. 1, 



292 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

however, a part of his forces having been defeated at 
Jonesboro, he blew up his magazines and evacuated the 
city. 

Ezra's Church, Ga.— [July 28, 1864]— July 27, 1864, 
Major-General O. O. Howard was appointed to the com- 
mand of the Army of the Tennessee and General Hooker 
resigned the command of the twentieth corps, being suc- 
ceeded by General H. W. Slocum. The Army of the 
Tennessee was moved from the extreme left to the ex- 
treme right of the position before Atlanta. General Hood 
taking advantage of this movement, July 28, made an at- 
tack on the fifteenth corps under Logan, at Ezra's Church, 
on the right of the Army of the Tennessee after the posi- 
tions were shifted. Logan was well supported by Blair's 
and Dodge's ' corps. The fighting continued till four 
o'clock P. M., when the confederates retired with a loss 
of 2,000. The federal loss was 600. 

Jonesboro, Ga. — [August 31, 1864] — On the night of 
August 25, 1864, General Sherman gave up the direct 
siege of Atlanta and the attempt to gain possession of 
the Macon Railroad to the southward. A part of his 
forces were moved back to the Chattahooche to the north- 
west, and others pushed southwest. The Army of the 
Tennessee under Howard, having destroyed the roads 
southwest of Atlanta, moved east toward Jonesboro, 
twenty miles south of Atlanta. Hood, learning of this 
movement, sent Hardee's corps to defend Jonesboro. 
When Howard reached the town on the evening of 
August 30, he found Hardee in possession. The latter came 
out and attacked Howard on the 31st, and after an engage- 
ment of two hours the confederates retired leaving 400 
dead upon the field. Their total loss was supposed to 
have been 2,500. During the night Hardee retired to 
Lovejoy. Seeing his position in Atlanta helpless. Hood, 



THE CIVIL WAR. 293 

on Sept. 1, blew up his magazines and evacuated 
Atlanta, which was occupied by General Slocum, with the 
twentieth army corps. The losses in the federal army 
from Chattanooga to Atlanta were about 30,000; in the 
confederate about 42,000. The confederates reported for 
the month of August, 1864, the loss of 482 men killed and 
3,223 wounded, a total of 3,705. 

Opequan, Battle of, or Winchester, Va. — [Sept. 19, 
1864] — Grant's campaign against Lee in Virginia in 1864, 
contemplated operations in the Shenandoah Valley. 
Sigel, in command of the Department of West Virginia, 
was defeated by Breckinridge at New Market, May 15. 
General Hunter was then placed in command of the de- 
partment, and in June reinforced to 20,000 men. He was 
opposed by a stronger force of confederates under General 
Early, who had arrived in the valley. Failing to effect a 
junction with Sheridan at Gordonsville, Hunter was driven 
across the mountains into West Virginia. Grant then re- 
lieved Hunter and organized the Middle Division of the 
army, and gave the command to Sheridan, August 7, 1864, 
The Army of the Shenandoah was composed of the sixth 
corps under Wright, two divisions of the nineteenth, the 
eighth corps, and two divisions of cavalry under Torbert 
and Wilson. 

Early was encamped on the west bank of Opequan 
Creek covering Winchester, and on Sept. 19 he was at- 
tacked by Sheridan. The battle began about ten A. M. and 
was maintained till nearly three P. M., when the confed- 
erates broke and fled in confusion toward Winchester. 
Sheridan took 2,500 prisoners, and found 2,000 wounded in 
the hospitals at Winchester. The confederate loss was 
226 killed, 1,567 wounded, and 1,818 missing, a total of 
3,611. Sherman's loss was 697 killed, 3,983 wounded and 
338 missing, a total of 5,018. 



294 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

Fisher's Hill, Va.— [Sept. 21, 1864]— Early's retreat 
from the Opequan after the battle of Sept. 19, 1864, did 
not stop at Winchester, but continued to Fisher's Hill, 
south of Winchester and about twelve miles from the scene 
of the battle of Opequan Creek. Here Early rallied his 
forces. To drive him from this position Sheridan dis- 
patched the eighth corps by a circuitous route to the con- 
federate rear, and on the evening of Sept. 21, the sixth and 
nineteenth corps engaged Early in front, while the eighth 
fell upon his rear. The confederates fled, and Sheridan 
pursued them through Harrisonburg, Staunton and the 
gaps in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The federal loss was 
52 killed, 457 wounded and 19 missing, a total of 528. 
The confederates reported 30 killed, 210 wounded and 
995 missing, a total of 1,235. In a week Sheridan had 
captured or destroyed half of Early's army and driven the 
rest southward. Sheridan then devastated the valley so 
as to render it untenable for confederate troops. At 
Fisher's Hill Sheridan captured 1,100 prisoners and six- 
teen guns. 

Allatoona, Ga. — [Oct. 6, 1864] — In the hope of draw- 
ing Sherman's army out of Georgia, the confederates 
threatened his railroad communications with Nashville. 
General Hood's army, numbering about 36,000, one-fourtK 
of whom were cavalry, crossed the Chattahooche Oct. 1, 
1864, marched to Dallas, destroyed a portion of the rail- 
road and captured several small garrisons. Oct. 5, a divi- 
sion of Hood's infantry appeared before Allatoona Pass, 
where were stored about a million and a half of rations. 
The post was held by Colonel Tourtelotte, and General 
Corse was signalled to reinforce it from Rome. Corse 
reached the place just before the attack, which was made 
on the 6th, increasing the force to 1,944 men. The con- 
flict lasted from 8.30 A. M. until night, when the confeder- 



THE CIVIL WAR. 295 

ates withdrew, leaving 127 dead and 746 wounded and 
prisoners. Corse lost 706 men, 142 of whom were killed, 
352, including himself, wounded, and 212 missing. Hood 
crossed the Coosa Oct. 10, and Sherman followed him to 
Gaylesville by way of Rome and then returned to Atlanta. 

Franklin, Tenn. — [Nov. 30, 1864] — In pursuance of the 
plan to draw Sherman out of Georgia, General Hood 
evacuated Atlanta early in September, 1864, and marched 
north, threatening Sherman's communication with his 
base of supplies at Nashville. Oct. 29, Hood crossed the 
Tennessee River at Florence with about 35,000 infantry 
and 10,000 cavalry. His army was formed in three corps 
under Generals Cheatham, Stewart and S. D. Lee; the 
cavalry under Forrest. Sherman had sent General- 
Thomas to Nashville and placed under his command Gen- 
eral Stanley with the fourth corps, General Schofield with 
the twenty-third and most of Wilson's cavalry, a force 
aggregating 17,000 men. Schofield was in command of 
the field and upon Hood's advance he fell back toward 
Nashville. By Nov. 30, Schofield's army had reached 
Franklin on the south bank of the Harpeth river, about 
twenty miles south of Nashville. Hood here made an at- 
tack. His first blow fell upon two brigades of Wagner's 
division, which had been posted outside the hastily erected 
works. The union troops lost a thousand men in the at- 
tack. Schofield's line was broken, and defeat seemed im- 
minent, when General Opdycke, commanding one of Wag- 
ner's brigades, made a brilliant charge and saved the day. 

The confederates made four distinct attacks, each of 
which was repulsed with terrible loss. The assaults con- 
tinued until near midnight, when Schofield succeeded in 
getting his troops over the river, and by daylight he was 
well on his way to Nashville. The federal loss in this bat- 
tle was 189 killed, 1,033 wounded and 1,104 missing, a 



296 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

total of 2,326. The confederates lost 1,750 killed, 3,800 
wounded and 702 prisoners, a total of 6,252. The propor- 
tion of killed to the number engaged shows the battle of 
Franklin to have been one of the bloodiest in history. 

Nashville, Term.— [Dec. 15, 1864]— After the battle of 
Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864, General Schofield retreated to 
Nashville, closely followed by Hood, who formed his 
lines near that city Dec. 4. Reinforcements were sent to 
Thomas at Nashville, swelling his forces to 56,000 men. 
Dec. 15, Thomas's army advanced against Hood. The 
day was consumed in manoeuvring and skirmishing. 
There were not many killed or wounded, but the result of 
the day's operations was the driving of the confederates 
from every position held by them, and the capture of 
sixteen guns, 1,200 prisoners, forty wagons and several 
hundred stands of small arms. 

The union forces bivouacked on the field and renewed 
the attack the next morning. By four o'clock in the af- 
ternoon the confederates were in full retreat toward 
Franklin. They were pursued until Dec. 28, when Hood 
crossed the Tennessee with the remnants of his army. 
The loss in killed and wounded was comparatively light, 
but fifty-three guns and 4,875 confederate prisoners were 
captured. The federal loss was 387 killed, 2,558 wounded 
and 112 missing, a total of 3,057. Since the evacuation 
of Atlanta, Hood had lost 13,000 in prisoners, besides the 
killed and wounded, and seventy-two guns. The federal 
loss during the same time was about 10,000. Jan. 23, 1865, 
Hood was relieved of his command. 

Cedar Creek, Va.— [Oct. 19, 1864]— Having, as he 
thought, completely defeated Early in the engagements 
at the Opequan and Fisher's Hill, Sheridan posted his 
army on the north side of Cedar Creek near Strasburg, 
and went to Washington to consult as to the return of 



THE CIVIL WAR. 297 

the sixth corps. During his absence Early, who had been 
reinforced by Lee to his original strength, returned up the 
valley, crossed Cedar Creek, and on the morning of Oct. 
19, 1864, surprised the camp and captured 24 guns and 
1,500 prisoners. 

The federal army under command of General Wright 
retired toward Winchester, when Sheridan, who had ar- 
rived at the latter place during the forenoon, rejoined the 
army and ordered the battle renewed. Early's men were 
in possession of the camp at Cedar Creek, when they were 
attacked, about three o'clock in the afternoon, and de- 
feated with heavy losses. The federal loss was 644 killed, 
3,430 wounded and 1,591 missing, a total of 5,655. The 
confederates lost 320 killed, 1,540 wounded and 1,050 miss- 
ing, a total of 2,910. Sheridan's loss in the two engage- 
ments was 5,990. The survivors fled in the direction of 
Staunton and Lynchburg. This was the last effort of the 
confederate forces to occupy the Shenandoah Valley. 
Sheridan's loss in the campaign, which lasted little more 
than a month, was 16,952. He had captured 13,000 pris- 
oners and killed or wounded 10,000 of the enemy. Early's 
army was practically destroyed. 

Hatcher's Run, Va. — [Oct. 27, 1864]— In an attempt to 
seize the South Side Railroad and get nearer Richmond, 
the second army corps, under Hancock, and two divisions 
of the fifth corps, on Oct. 27, 1864, forced a passage of 
Hatcher's Run, the termination of the confederate works 
on the right, and moved up along the south side of it, to 
where the run is crossed by the Boydton Plank Road. In 
support of the movement Butler made a demonstration 
on the north side of the James River, and attacked the con- 
federates on both the Williamsburg and York River rail- 
roads. The confederates moved across Hatcher's Run 
and made a fierce attack upon Hancock, but were driven 



298 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

back within their works. During the night Hancock re- 
tired to his old position, having lost 1,900, of whom one- 
third were missing. Feb. 5, 1865, Grant made another at- 
tempt to turn the confederate lines at Hatcher's Run. 
The only gain was an extension to the westward of the 
federal lines. The losses in the attempt were 1,758 on 
the federal, of whom 166 were killed, 1.028 wounded and 
564 missing, and about 1,006 on the confederate side, 206 
being killed, 600 wounded, and 200 missing. 

Fort Fisher, N. C— [Dec. 24, 1864, Jan. 15, 1865]— In 
November, 1864, an expedition was planned against Fort 
Fisher, N. C. This fort occupies a peninsula on the south 
coast of North Carolina, between the mouth of the Cape 
Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. It formed the prin- 
cipal defense of Wilmington, N. C, the most important 
seaport through which the southern confederacy received 
foreign supplies, and from which departed blockade run- 
ners, laden with cotton and other products of the south. 
It was also deemed a point of considerable strategic im- 
portance. Fort Fisher and its connected works mounted 
seventy-five guns. The armament of the works guarding 
the approaches to Wilmington was about 150 guns, in- 
cluding some 150-pounder Armstrong guns. The garrison 
consisted of 2,300 men. 

Dec. 13, 1864, the expedition started. It consisted of a 
fleet of seventy-three vessels, carrying 655 guns, some of 
them of the largest calibre, and a land force of 6,500 men 
under General Butler. The expedition was accompanied by 
a boat loaded with 215 tons of gunpowder, which it was de- 
signed to explode in the vicinity of the fort, with a view 
to igniting the magazines by detonation. This proved a 
failure. Dec. 24, the fort was bombarded by the fleet and 
reduced in an hour and a half. The next day Butler 
ordered their re-embarkation and return. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 299 

Butler was relieved of the command and superseded by 
General Terry, with the addition of 1,500 men and a small 
siege train. Jan. 13, 1865, the fort was again attacked. 
The troops were landed under protection of Porter's guns. 
On the 14th a small advance work was taken by the feder- 
als. The ships reopened fire on the 15th. At two P. M. a 
general assault was made, and for five hours a desperate 
hand to hand encounter was maintained. Not until mid- 
night was resistance ended, and the gallant defenders 
forced to surrender. Two thousand and eighty-three pris- 
oners were taken, including General Whiting and Colonel 
Lamb. The federal loss was 184 killed, 749 wounded and 
22 missing, 955 in all. The next morning by the acciden- 
tal explosion of a magazine, 200 men were killed and 100 
wounded. 

Fort McAllister, Ga., Capture and Fall of Savannah — 
[Dec. 13, 20, 1864]— Nov. 16, 1864, General Sherman, 
having destroyed Atlanta and its railroad connections, 
took up his march toward Savannah. His army was com- 
posed of the fourteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth and twen- 
tieth corps, numbering 60,000 infantry and artillery, and 
about 6,000 cavalry. General Howard commanded the 
right wing, comprising the fifteenth corps, under Oster- 
haus, and the seventeenth under Blair. General Slocum 
commanded the left, formed by the fourteenth corps under 
J. C. Davis, and the twentieth under Williams. The cav- 
alry was under the direction of Judson Kilpatrick. Sher- 
man passed down the peninsula between the Ogeechee 
and Savannah Rivers, and about the middle of December 
stood before Savannah, held by the confederate general, 
Hardee, with 15,000 men. 

To the south of Savannah, on the Ogeechee river stands 
Fort McAllister, which had resisted many attacks from 
the sea, and effectually prevented the ascent of the river 



300 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

by the federal gunboats. The defenses of the fort were 
weak to the landward, and a garrison of less than 300 men 
held the works. McAllister mounted 23 guns en barbette, 
and one mortar. Dec. 13, 1864, General Hazen's division 
of the fifteenth corps, crossed the river and assaulted the 
fort from the rear. The garrison was overpowered and 
in fifteen minutes after the bugle sounded forward, the 
fort was taken. Communication was now open to Dahl- 
gren's fleet lying in the harbor. Siege guns were brought 
from Hilton Head, and when the investment of Savannah 
was completed Sherman demanded its surrender. Hardee 
refused, but when all the arrangements for the assault 
had been completed, he evacuated the city on the night 
of Dec. 20. It was occupied next day by Sherman's 
army. Two hundred guns and 35,000 bales of cotton fell 
into federal hands. Thus ended Sherman's march from 
Atlanta to the sea, a distance of more than 300 miles. 
Out of the entire army of 66,000 men, 63 were killed, 
245 wounded and 260 captured on the march, which con- 
sumed twenty-seven days. 

Averysboro, N. C— [March 16, 1865]— Jan. 18, 1865, 
Sherman transferred the city of Savannah and the adja- 
cent forts to General Foster, and took up his line of march 
through the Carolinas to join Grant before Richmond. 
His army consisted of about 65,000 men. The confeder- 
ate general, Hardee, was in Charleston with 14.000 men, 
whom he had brought from Savannah. Generals D. H. 
Hill and G. W. Smith were at Augusta, and Beauregard 
was near the North Carolina line collecting troops. Sher- 
man threatened Augusta and Charleston, but passed them 
both, and, after skirmishes with the enemy at Pocotaligo, 
Salkhatchie, Willston Station, Orangeburg and Congaree 
Creek, proceeded to Columbia, the state capital, which 
was surrendered Feb. 17, 1865, and burned by orders of 



THE CIVIL WAR. 301 

the confederate general, Wade Hampton. The fall of 
Columbia caused Hardee to evacuate Charleston after set- 
ting it afire. It was occupied by the federal troops under 
Gillmore and the national flag was raised on Fort Sumter 
Feb. 18, 1865. 

March 8, Sherman's army crossed into North Carolina. 
The army was now accompanied by 25,000 non-com- 
batants. General Johnston was appointed to the com- 
mand of the confederate troops collected to oppose Sher- 
man. The latter proceeded toward Goldsboro, N. C. 
March 16, 1865, Slocum, in the advance of the union army, 
encountered the enemy under Hardee near Averysboro, in 
the narrow, swampy neck between Cape Fear and South 
rivers. Hardee hoped to hold Sherman in check until 
Johnston could concentrate his army at some point in his 
rear. Incessant rains had made the ground so soft that 
men and horses sank deep in the mud. A severe fight took 
place amid showers of rain and gusts of wind. The whole 
line advanced late in the afternoon, drove the enemy 
within his entrenched lines and pressed him so hard that 
he was forced to retreat, through and storm and over bad 
roads, to Smithfield, leaving 108 dead upon the field. The 
federal loss was 93 killed, 531 wounded and 54 missing, 
a total of 678. The confederate loss was reported as 108 
killed, 540 wounded and 217 missing, a total of 865. 

Bentonville, N. C— [March 18, 21, 1865]— After the en- 
gagement. at Averysboro Sherman's army continued its 
march toward Goldsboro. When near Bentonville, 
March 18, Slocum's advance encountered the confederates 
in force. Johnston had collected Stewart's and Cheatham's 
corps, Hardee's force and Hampton's cavalry, aggregating 
24,000 men. The attack of the confederates was directed 
mainly against the corps of Jeff. C. Davis. A strong line 
of battle confronted Johnston, with Mill Creek and a single 



302 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

bridge in his rear. March 21 a general attack was made 
by Sherman's skirmish line. During the night Johnston 
retreated. His loss was probably 3,000. Sherman's loss 
at Bentonville was 1,646, of whom 191 were killed, 1,168 
wounded and 287 missing. The confederate loss was 239 
killed, 1,694 wounded and 673 missing, a total of 2,606. 

Fort Steedman, Assault on— [March 25, 1865]— When, 
in March, 1865, it became apparent to Lee that he must 
evacuate Richmond, he planned an assault on Fort Steed- 
man, on Grant's right, in the hope of reaching Grant's 
railroad and possibly burning his stores at City Point. 
During the assault it was reckoned Longstreet and Hill 
could retire to the south, followed by the assaulting 
column, and join Johnston. Entrance to the fort was ob- 
tained by strategem and a bold charge at daybreak of 
March 25. The batteries were carried and 500 prisoners 
captured. The supporting column failed to arrive, and 
the assailants were huddled together in the works they 
had taken. The surrounding artillery was brought to 
bear on the position, and 1,900 of them surrendered. Of 
the 5,000 who made the attack 3,000 were either killed, 
wounded or captured. An advance of the other corps was 
ordered, and 834 more prisoners were taken. The federal 
loss was 1,044, of whom 72 were killed, 450 wounded and 
522 missing. 

Five Forks, Va.— [March 31, April 1, 1865]— March 27, 
1865, General Sheridan with 10,000 cavalry returned from 
his raid in the Shenandoah Valley, and rejoined the Army 
of the Potomac before Richmond. On the 29th Grant 
began another movement to turn the enemy's right, or 
destroy his lines of retreat south. Sheridan, with the fifth 
corps under General Warren, and about 9,000 cavalry, 
crossed Hatcher's Run, and proceeded by way of the Boyd- 
ton Plank Road, toward Dinwiddie Court House. War- 



THE CIVIL WAR. 303 

ren found the confederates in force on the White Oak 
Road. Sheridan passing Dinwiddie, turned north. Lee 
had sent 20,000 men, chiefly the divisions of Johnson and 
Pickett, to meet the threatened attempt on the roads to 
his rear. 

March 31, Lee's column met and defeated Warren at 
Dinwiddie Court House, and then attacked Sheridan at 
Five Forks and drove him back toward Dinwiddie. The 
next morning, April 1, Sheridan advanced with his cavalry 
and the fifth corps, about 12,000 strong. By two P. M. 
the confederates had been forced into their main works. 
Ayres, on the left of the fifth corps, made a charge, carry- 
ing all before it and taking 1,000 prisoners. Griffin cap- 
tured the works in his front, taking 1,500 prisoners ; Craw- 
ford seized the Ford Road, in the enemy's rear; Merritt's 
cavalry made a charge and the day was won ; but not 
without a desperate resistance. Lee's army was over- 
whelmed. For six miles they were pursued along the 
White Oak Road. More than 5,000 prisoners were taken, 
with four guns and many colors. Sheridan's loss was 884, 
of whom 124 were killed, 706 wounded and 54 missing. 
The loss to Warren's at Dinwiddie was 67 killed and 354 
wounded, a total of 421. 

Petersburg, Assault on — [April 2, 1865] — At four 
o'clock Sunday morning, April 2, after having heavily bom- 
barded the confederate lines all night, the whole line of 
Grant's army from the Appomattox to Hatcher's Run, 
made a general assault. Wright forced the lines in front, 
capturing a large number of guns and several thousand 
prisoners. Hartranft captured twelve guns and 800 pris- 
oners. Wright then, followed by Ord's and Humphrey's 
corps, swung to the right and moved on Petersburg, leav- 
ing the confederate army divided and retreating across 
the Appomattox. Gibson's division, by a gallant assault, 



304 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

took two strong works south of Petersburg In these 
assaults the federal losses were 296 killed, 2,665 wounded 
and 500 missing, a total of 3,361. 

In the trenches before Petersburg between June 15 and 
Sept. 1, 1864, the federals lost 2,149 killed, 10.606 wounded 
and 1,481 missing, a total of 14,236. 

Richmond,Fall of— [April 3,1865]— Before noon of April 
2, the exterior defenses of Richmond had been captured, 
and Lee's army hopelessly defeated. Jefferson Davis, the 
President of the Southern Confederacy, received the news 
of the disaster while in church in Richmond. He ordered 
the confederate archives burned, and the coin in the banks 
removed to Danville. General Ewell set the city on fire, 
and it was plundered by its own rabble. The next morn- 
ing, April 3, 1865, the United States flag was hoisted over 
the confederate capital. Petersburg was evacuated si- 
multaneously with Richmond. 

Sailor's Creek, Va.— [April 6, 1865]— After the defeat 
at Five Forks and the retreat of Lee's army from Rich- 
mond and Petersburg, he made his way due west and 
reached the Danville railroad at Amelia Court House, on 
April 4, 1865. Sheridan passed him and reached the rail- 
road at Jetersville, seven miles southwest. Lee, finding 
retreat cut off in this direction, moved westward toward 
Farmville. At Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865, General 
George A. Custer, joined by Crook and Devin, succeeded 
in piercing the confederate column, took sixteen guns, 400 
wagons and many prisoners. Ewell's corps arid part of 
Pickett's division were thus cut off. The cavalry detained 
this force of between 6,000 and 8,000 until surrounded by 
Wright with the sixth corps. The federal losses were 166 
killed and 1,014 wounded. 

Farmville, Va.— [April 7, 1865]— The wreck of Lee's 
army was moving westward toward Farmville, where it 




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THE CIVIL WAR. 305 

was hoped to cross the Appomattox, burn the bridges and 
check the pursuit. Meantime Ord, with his command of 
the Army of the James, was also advancing toward Farm- 
ville to burn the bridges and intercept Lee at that point. 
His advance consisted of two regiments of infantry and a 
squadron of cavalry under General Theodore Read. Dis- 
regarding the odds against him and the desperation of his 
antagonist, Read threw his little force upon Lee's fleeing 
column April 7. In the conflict which ensued, Read was 
killed and his command brushed aside and the column 
•crossed the river. 

After the death of Read, Ord came up and the confed- 
erates began to entrench themselves. On the same after- 
noon Sherman struck the enemy further back, capturing 
sixteen pieces of artillery and 400 wagons, and held them 
in check until the arrival of the second corps, when a gen- 
eral attack was ordered, resulting in the capture of 6,000 
or 7,000 prisoners, among them Generals Ewell and 
Custis. 

Appomattox — [April 9, 1865] — After the battle of 
Farmville on April 7 Lee moved off toward the west, 
closely pursued by Meade on the north side of the Ap- 
pomattox. Sheridan, learning of the arrival of supply 
trains for Lee's army at Appomattox Station, pushed for- 
ward for that place with all the cavalry. Lee's hopeless 
•condition being now apparent, Grant sent him a note in- 
viting surrender. Lee replied asking for the terms, and 
Grant insisted upon unconditional surrender of the con- 
federate Army of Northern Virginia. 

On the night of April 9 Custer, who was in Sheridan's 
advance, reached Appomattox Station, where the con- 
federate advance had just arrived. He attacked and routed 
the forces and captured twenty-five guns, four trains of 
cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army, a hospital train 



306 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

and a park of wagons. During the night Sheridan came 
up, and by daylight was joined by General Ord's command 
and the fifth corps. Lee was now only twenty miles from 
Lynchburg, his objective point. Underestimating the op- 
posing forces, he ordered General Gordon to make a re- 
connoissance and attack. Sheridan's cavalry withdrew to 
one side and revealed the lines of Ord's and Griffin's com- 
mands in battle array. 

Gordon sent forward a white flag. Lee sent a note to 
Grant requesting an interview, which closed with the 
signing of articles of surrender of Lee's army. Officers 
and men were paroled, after stacking their arms, on 
April 12. The cavalrymen were given their horses. 

Mobile, Ala., Operations Against — [August 5, 1864- 
April 9, 1865] — August 5, 1864, Rear-Admiral Farragut 
passed the forts and obstructions at the entrance to Mo- 
bile Bay and captured the confederate ram Tennessee. 
Mobile Bay was defended by Fort Gaines, on the eastern 
end of Dauphin Island ; Fort Morgan, on the western ex- 
tremity of Mobile Point, east of the channel, and Fort 
Powell, situated on a small island west of Dauphin. Forts 
Gaines and Morgan commanded the main channel, the 
former mounting twenty-one guns and the latter forty- 
eight. In the bay were the iron-clad ram Tennessee and 
the gunboats Gaines, Morgan and Selma. Obstructions 
and defenses of all kinds had been placed around the har- 
bor, and thirty torpedoes were strung across the channel. 
Farragut's fleet consisted of fourteen wooden ships and 
four monitors. General Granger had landed 4,000 federal 
troops on Dauphin Island in the rear of Fort Gaines, to 
co-operate with the fleet. 

Farragut's vessels got under way early in the morning 
of August 5, 1864, and before seven o'clock the engage- 
ment became general. The monitor Tecumseh fired the 



THE CIVIL WAR. 307 

first shot, and shortly after struck a torpedo and sunk, 
with her commander, Captain Craven, and most of her 
crew. Within an hour the other vessels had passed the 
forts, and met the gunboats and ram inside the harbor. 
The Tennessee was built on the plan of the Merrimac. 
Her armature consisted of six rifles, two pivots of 1%- 
inch bore and four 6-inch broadsides. After a severe 
contest between the ironclads and monitors, the Tennes- 
see surrendered at ten o'clock. Farragut's loss was 
150 killed and drowned (113 of whom went down on board 
the Tecumseh) and 170 wounded. Of the 37 killed aboard 
the wooden vessels, 25 were from the crew of the Hart- 
ford, Farragut's flagship. The night after the battle, Fort 
Powell was abandoned and blown up. Next day Fort 
Gaines was shelled by the Chickasaw, and surrendered 
with 800 prisoners. Granger's troops were transferred 
to the rear of Fort Morgan, and on August 22 it was bom- 
barded, and on the 23d surrendered. With the defenses 
of Mobile there were taken 104 guns and 1,464 men. 

Operations against the city of Mobile were begun 
March 20, 1865. Two forts protected the city after the 
passage into the harbor had been made. April 4 these 
were bombarded. Four days later another bombardment 
was begun, followed in the evening by an assault. The 
outer works were carried during the night, and prepara- 
tions made to complete the conquest next day, but at one 
o'clock on the morning of April 9 the garrison surrendered. 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 



When, on the night of Oct. 11, 1492, Columbus des- 
cried the dimly burning camp fires of the aboriginal Amer- 
icans on the Bahama Islands, Spanish dominion in the 
western world began. When, shaded by the "surrender 
tree" from the noonday sun of the 17th of July, 1898, 
Major-General Shafter returned Linares his proffered 
sword and raised the stars and stripes at Santiago de Cuba, 
that dominion virtually ceased. 

The once mighty empire of Castile and Aragon, so hap- 
pily begun by Ferdinand and Isabella, augmented by the 
Hapsburgs and retained at so much cost by the bourbons 
in the War of Succession, now, after four centuries, tot- 
tered and crumbled beneath the blows of the foundling — 
blows dealt not in hatred, not in jealousy, not for conquest, 
but in righteous chastisement for power abused and jus- 
tice outraged. 

Cuba, the largest of Spain's American possessions, had 
particularly suffered from Spanish oppression. The first 
colonists of the island under Diego Columbus enslaved the 
native Indians and the latter were soon exterminated at 
the hands of their harsh task-masters, and negro slaves 
were imported from Africa to take their places. 

In 1537 Diego Columbus relinquished to the Crown his 
right to govern the island and for a century and a half 
the people were in almost constant fear of invasion by 
the Dutch, French or English or the pirates who frequent- 
ed the adjacent waters. Many laws were made in Spain 
disastrous to Cuban prosperity. Trade with the island 
was restricted to native Castilians. During the present 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 309 

century the island has been ruled by a succession of cap- 
tains-general with almost absolute power. 

Much sympathy has been felt for the Cuban patriots by 
the people of the United States, and several efforts have 
been made to purchase the island. In 1848 President Polk 
offered $1,000,000 for it, and in 1858 a proposal was made 
in the senate to offer $30,000,000, but this was withdrawn. 
In 1854 the Ostend Manifesto was issued claiming the 
right of the United States to annex Cuba if Spain refused 
to sell. Between 1870 and 1886 the Cuban slaves were all 
freed. Insurrections in 1849-51 and 1854 having for their 
object the independence of the island failed to accomplish 
anything and were suppressed with harsh measures. The 
rebellion of 1868-78 induced the home government to 
promise the Cubans representation in the Cortes, and a 
political party was formed in Spain to secure the fulfill- 
ment of this promise. Spain failed to keep faith with the 
Cubans, and the discontent continued. 

In 1895 another rebellion broke out, to suppress which 
General Martinez Campos was sent from Spain with an 
army of 120,000 men. The insurgent troops under Gomez 
and Maceo, kept the field, however, and could not be 
brought to surrender. 

In February 1896, General Weyler was appointed Cap- 
tain-general. One of his earliest official acts on arriving 
at the island was to issue an edict concentrating the agri- 
cultural inhabitants, whether loyal or rebellious, in the 
cities. He destroyed their homes and laid waste their 
lands. Thus robbed and imprisoned the poorer classes 
died by thousands from starvation and disease. This cruel 
treatment, brought to the attention of the people of the 
United States, aroused their sympathy and indignation. 

The question of recognizing the belligerency of the 
Cuban insurgents was again brought forward. This had 



310 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

been discussed by Presidents Grant and Cleveland and 
almost the same conditions confronted McKinley when he 
came into office in 1897. Grant spoke of the insurrection 
as "confined to an irregular system of hostilities, carried on 
by small and illy armed bands of men roaming without con- 
centration through the woods and sparsely populated re- 
gions of the island, attacking from ambush convoys and 
small bands of troops and burning plantations and the es- 
tates of those not sympathizing with their cause. * * * 
The contest has at no time assumed the conditions which 
amount to a war in the sense of international law, or which 
show the existence of a de facto political organization of 
the insurgents sufficient to justify a recognition of bellig- 
erency. * * * The recognition of independence or 
of belligerency being thus, in my judgment, equally inad- 
missible, it remains to consider what course shall be 
adopted should the conflict not soon be brought to an end 
by acts of the parties themselves and should the evils 
which result therefrom, affecting all nations, and particu- 
larly the United States, continue. * * * While thus 
impressed I do not at this time recommend any measures 
of intervention." 

Twenty-seven years later President Cleveland said: 
"Whatever may be the traditions and sympathies of our 
countrymen as individuals with a people who seem to be 
struggling for larger autonomy and greater freedom, deep- 
ened as such sympathy naturally must be in behalf of our 
neighbors, the plain duty of their government, is to ob- 
serve in good faith the recognized obligations of interna- 
tional relationship. * * * Imperfect and restricted as 
the Spanish government of the island may be, no other 
exists there — unless the will of a military officer in tempo- 
rary command of a particular district can be dignified as a 
species of government." 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 311 

Permission was given the charitably inclined people of 
the United States to feed the starving reconcentrados, and 
shiploads of provisions were sent from our ports and dis- 
tributed among the starving Cubans. Spanish cruelty re- 
sented these kindly acts and mistook American sympathy 
for selfish interest. Many insults were heaped upon Am- 
ericans and even the President of the United States did 
not escape their contumely. Our consul general at Ha- 
vana was threatened with violence. 

While the relations of the two countries were thus 
strained, the United States battle-ship Maine was sent to 
the harbor of Havana on a friendly visit to the port, and 
to protect our citizens. On the night of February 15, 1898, 
this vessel was blown up at her anchorage, and two officers 
and 264 of her crew perished. When the American people 
realized the horror of this awful catastrophe and its sus- 
picious nature a stern, calm determination possessed them 
to mete out severe punishment as soon as responsibilty 
could be placed. Investigation proved the destruction to 
have been wrought by an external explosion produced by 
a submarine mine. The suppressed indignation could no 
longer be controlled by conservative thought, and the 
nation with one voice demanded redress. "Remember the 
Maine" became the watchword north, south, east and 
west, of Republicans, Democrats, Populists, and all politi- 
cal factions united in support of the administration. Con- 
gress immediately and unanimously appropriated $50,000,- 
000 for the national defense. 

April 19, 1898, Congress declared Cuba independent, and 
Spain was ordered to withdraw from the American con- 
tinent. April 22, a blockade of Cuban ports was pro- 
claimed. The next day 125,000 volunteers were called 
for, and on April 25 war was formally declared and 75,000 
additional volunteers were called for. The regular army 



312 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

was enlisted up to its full quota. More than 100 vessels 
were added to the navy and the enlisted force of that arm 
of the service was increased to 24,000. The coast defenses 
were strengthened and a popular loan of $400,000,000 was 
authorized and subscribed to several times over, though 
only $200,000,000 of the offerings were taken by the gov- 
ernment. 

Commodore George Dewey, who was in command of 
the Asiatic squadron at Hong Kong, China, when war was 
declared, proceeded to the (Philippine Islands, Spain's 
most valuable Pacific possession, where he arrived at day- 
break, May 1, and after a few hours' engagement, de- 
stroyed the entire Spanish fleet of ten warships and a 
transport, captured the naval station and the forts at Ca- 
vite and acquired full control of the Bay of Manila, with 
ability to take the city at will. Not a life was lost on the 
American squadron and only seven men were injured. 
The Spanish loss was 412. 

In June an expedition of 16,000 men was fitted out to 
operate in Cuba. Landing was effected near Santiago, 
June 22 and 23, and by July 3, the city was invested; but 
not without severe fighting at Las Guasimas, El Caney, 
and the San Juan hills. July 3, the Spanish fleet, under 
Admiral Cervera, which had been blockaded in the harbor 
of Santiago by the American fleet under Rear Admiral 
Sampson, sailed out and attempted to escape. A squadron 
of the American fleet, under Commodore Schley, inter- 
cepted and utterly destroyed them. On the day of this en- 
gagement on the coast, General Shafter demanded the sur- 
render of Santiago, and met with a response which justi- 
fied him in waiting, and on the 17th of July the eastern end 
of the island was surrendered with 22,000 men. 

An expedition against Porto Rico was immediately 
fitted out, and on July 27, 1898, General Miles landed at 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 313: 

Ponce with some 17,000 and, with the exception of slight 
encounters at Guayama, Hormigueros, Coamo and 
Yauco, there was no serious resistance. By August 12,. 
when the peace protocol was signed and hostilities ended, 
most of the island was in possession of the Americans. 

Before the news of the signing of the protocol reached 
Manila, the Spanish garrison of the city attacked the Am- 
erican army of 11,000 men under General Wesley Merritt, 
which had arrived and invested the place. The Filipino 
insurgents were cooperating with the Americans, but 
were away celebrating a feast when the Spanish made the 
attack. The latter numbered only about 3,000, and were 
soon overpowered. The next day a combined land and 
sea attack was made, and August 15, 1898, Manila capitu- 
lated. The treaty of peace was signed Dec. 10, 1898, and 
provided for the relinquishment of Cuba, the cession of 
Porto Rico and other West Indian islands to the United 
States, the cession of the Philippine Islands upon payment 
of $20,000,000 to Spain, and the transportation to Spain of 
her army in the West Indies at the expense of the victors. 

The casualties in the American army during the war 
were 23 officers and 257 enlisted men killed, 113 officers 
and 1,464 enlisted men wounded, a total of 1,577. In the 
navy 17 were killed, 67 wounded, six invalided from service 
and one died from the effects of wounds, a total of 91. 
The total for both arms of the service was 1,668. America 
did not lose a ship, transport, gun, or flag in the war, and 
the only prisoners taken by the Spaniards were the men 
who ran the collier Merrimac into the channel at Santiago 
harbor and sank her to prevent the escape of Cervera's 
fleet. August 7, forty-six days after the landing of Shaf- 
ter's army in Cuba, the United States troops commenced 
embarkation for home. 



RECORD OF BATTLES. 

Matanzas Shelled — [April 27, 1898] — As soon as war 
was declared against Spain, on April 21, 1898, the North 
Atlantic squadron, under Captain William T. Sampson, 
began a blockade of the Cuban coast. The port of Mat- 
anzas, about fifty miles east of Havana, appeared to pre- 
sent a convenient landing place for the army of invasion, 
and this the Spaniards began fortifying. April 27, Samp- 
son, with the New York, Cincinnati and Puritan, shelled 
these fortifications, firing about 300 shots in eighteen 
minutes. The vessels then stood off to sea, having sus- 
tained no damage or loss of life. 

Manila Bay — [May 1, 1898] — For several weeks prior 
to the breaking out of the Spanish-American war in 1898, 
the Asiatic squadron of United States war vessels, consist- 
ing of the cruisers Olympia, Raleigh, Boston, Charleston 
and Baltimore, and the gunboats Concord, Monocacy and 
Petrel, supply vessel Zafiro, colliers Brutus, Nashan and 
Nero, monitors Monadnock and Monterey, transports 
City of Pekin and Sydney, and the revenue cutter McCul- 
loch. had been lying at Hong Kong, China under the com- 
mand of Commodore George Dewey. Upon the col- 
onial proclamation of neutrality being issued, and the 
twenty-four hours' notice being given, Dewey repaired 
to Mirs Bay, near Hong Kong, whence he proceeded under 
telegraphed orders to capture or destroy the Spanish fleet, 
then assembled at Manila, the capital of the Philippine Isl- 
ands, Spain's Asiatic possessions. 

At daybreak, May 1, 1898, Dewey*s fleet sailed into 
Manila Bay, and by noon had effected a total destruction 
of the Spanish fleet, consisting of the cruisers Reina Cris- 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 315 

tina, Castilla, Ulloa, Isle de Cuba, General Lozo, the gun- 
boats Duero, Correo, Velasco and Mindano, and one trans- 
port, under Admiral Montojo, besides capturing the naval 
station and forts at Cavite, thus annihilating the Spanish 
naval force in the Pacific, and gaining complete control of 
the Bay of Manila with the city at his mercy. Not a life 
was lost on the American ships, the wounded numbering 
only seven. The total Spanish loss was 412 men. 

Guantanamo Bay — [June 6-16, 1898] — While the Ameri* 
can fleet under Rear Admiral Sampson was blockading the 
Harbor of Santiago de Cuba, in early June, 1898, it was 
decided to establish a naval station on the coast in the vi- 
cinity. Guantanamo Bay, 35 miles east of Santiago was 
selected, and on June 6 and 7, the defenses of the bay were 
subjected to a severe bombardment, and on the 10th a 
force of 647 marines, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel 
R. W. Huntington, was landed under fire of the Marble- 
head and Yankee. On the 14th, Captain Elliott, with 
two companies of marines and 50 Cubans, attacked and 
routed a Spanish force variously estimated at from 200 to 
500, killing 40 or more, taking 18 prisoners, and capturing 
a heliograph station. For ten days after their landing the 
marines were subjected to a harassing fire from the Span- 
ish soldiers in the vicinity, who used smokeless powder 
and fired from ambush. The American loss during the ten 
days was 6 men killed and 16 wounded. 

Las Guasimas — [June 24, 1898] — As soon as the marine 
force was landed at Guantanamo Bay it became evident 
that an aggressive land movement was necessary to reduce 
the city and defenses of Santiago. There were only about 
7,000 Spaniards in the vicinity of Guantanamo and Caima- 
nero under General Felix Pareja, and it was thought 10,000 
men would be sufficient to invest Santiago. 

Finally, after much confusion and delay, the army of 



316 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

invasion got under way for Cuba, June 14, 1898. It was 
comprised of the fifth army corps, commanded by Major 
General W. R. Shafter. The corps was in three divisions 
under Brigadier Generals Kent, Lawton and Wheeler, and 
consisted of the First, Second, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, 
Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Sixteenth, Sev- 
enteenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth and 
Twenty-fifth infantry, together with the Second Massa- 
chusetts and the Seventy-second New York volunteer 
militia, a squadron of four troops drawn from the Second,. 
Third, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and Tenth cavalry, four troops 
of the First Volunteer cavalry dismounted (Rough Rid- 
ers), light batteries E and K of the First and A and F of 
the Second artillery, a signal corps and a detachment of 
engineers. Reports vary as to the number of men in the 
expedition. General Shafter's report places it at 17,750,. 
General Miles fixes the figures at 15,738, and the Secre- 
tary of War gives 16,988 as the total. The invading army 
was later reinforced by an independent brigade under 
General Bates, consisting of the Third and Twentieth in- 
fantry, and a squadron of the Second cavalry, mounted. 

June 22, after the fleet had bombarded the coast for 
some twenty miles between Cabanas and Baiquiri, the 
landing was begun at the latter place, fifteen miles east of 
Santiago. The Spanish troops made but feeble resistance, 
and on June 23, Lawton's division reached Siboney, about 
six miles on the way to Santiago. On the 24th, Lawton 
advanced to a position on the road from Siboney to San- 
tiago, but during the previous night General Young's 
brigade of Wheeler's cavalry, consisting of part of the 
Tenth regular, and two battalions of the First volunteer 
cavalry, and numbering 964 men had passed him, and 
about three miles from Siboney, at a place called Las 
Guasimas, the first serious opposition was encountered. 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 317 

Two trails over and around a range of hills unite at 
Guasimas, whence a single road leads into Santiago. Gen- 
eral Young led the regulars along the trail at the base of 
the hills, while Colonel Wood and Roosevelt's Rough 
Riders took the ascending trail over the hills. At a place 
where the latter trail broadens out into an open meadow 
covered with tall grass and underbrush, the Spanish 
opened fire from the surrounding thickets and from the 
blockhouse on the hill top. Young's regulars were at- 
tacked a mile beyond on the other trail. Both detach- 
ments advanced slowly at first under the heavy Spanish 
fire, then charged the hill top. 

Here about 600 of the enemy under General Rubin were 
strongly posted. A stubborn fight ensued and the 
Spaniards were driven back with a loss of 9 killed and 27 
wounded. The American loss was 16 killed and 52 
wounded. 

Santiago— [July 1, 2, 3, 1898]— By the 1st of July, 
1898, the American army of invasion had gained a position 
•east of Santiago, extending in a line about five miles long 
from El Caney, about four miles northeast, to Aguadores, 
on the south of the city, near the coast. On the morning 
of July 1 a general advance was ordered. At the right of 
the line facing El Caney was General Lawton's division, 
numbering 6,464 men. Wheeler held the centre with the 
First, Ninth and Tenth regular cavalry and First volun- 
teer cavalry (Roosevelt's Rough Riders) aggregating 
8,242. Between this division and the city lay the village 
of San Juan, at the top of a steep and well fortified hill. 
Nearer the coast, where the railroad crossed the San Juan 
River, was the village of Aguadores, facing which was the 
left wing of the army held as a reserve under General 
Kent, behind which was General Dufneld, with the Thirty- 
third Michigan volunteer militia. 



318 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

The battle opened at El Caney, where about 1,000' 
Spaniards were posted. Capron's battery shelled the fort 
from 6 :40 A. M. till 3 P. M., when the Spanish colors were 
shot down and General Chaffee's skirmishers charged 
the covered way, from which the Spaniards had kept up 
a stubborn fire all day. The Spanish loss was nearly 500, 
including General Vara del Rey, commander, his brother 
and two sons. The American loss was 88 killed and 356- 
wounded. 

Wheeler's division moved forward, fording the San 
Juan River, under a galling fire of Spanish sharpshooters. 
Expected reinforcements from Lawton's division failing 
to arrive, it was necessary to charge up the hill. Briga- 
dier General Henry S. Hawkins led on the right and 
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt on the left. Two hills were 
climbed in the charge, and by night the Americans held 
every point for which they fought. 

On the extreme left General Duffield had begun an at- 
tack on the coast village of Aguadores, aided by the fire 
of the New York, Gloucester and Suwanee. The Spaniards 
were driven out, but as the bridge over the San Juan 
was down, the place was not occupied by the Americans, 
who lost 2 killed and 15 wounded. 

At dawn of July 2 the fighting was renewed, the 
Spaniards attempting to regain the positions lost and the 
Americans fighting mostly on the defensive to retain 
them. On the 3d the Americans held their positions in 
the face of constant firing. 

On this day General Shafter demanded the surrender 
of the place, threatening bombardment. The Spanish 
commander, Toral, peremptorily refused. With the ex- 
ception of a few shells from the naval vessels and the 
limited artillery at hand, no effort was made to reduce 
the place, and on July 12 a truce was agreed upon. On 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 319 

the 17th the formal surrender took place. The losses in 
the three days' righting, as reported by General Shafter, 
were 226 killed, 1,274 wounded and 84 missing, a total of 
1,584. 

Santiago Harbor— [July 3, 1898]— After the United 
States had declared war against Spain, other nations 
hastened to proclaim their neutrality. The Spanish Ad- 
miral, Pasquale de Cervera, had assembled a fleet of war 
vessels in the Cape Verde Islands, belonging to Portugal, 
and under the law of nations, was compelled to leave this 
neutral water within forty-eight hours. His fleet con- 
sisted of the Colon, Almirante Oquendo, Viscaya and 
Maria Theresa, first class 8-inch armored cruisers, with 
heavy batteries of finest modern rifles, and a speed ex- 
ceeding twenty knots, and the torpedo boat destroyers 
Furor, Pluton and Terror, of thirty knots speed. 

Sampson, with the South Atlantic squadron, set out in 
search of Cervera's fleet, and after shelling Matanzas, on 
the north of Cuba, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, proceeded 
via Cape Hatien, to the south of Cuba, where he was 
joined by Captain Schley's flying squadron, thus placing 
at his command the New York, Brooklyn, Texas, Iowa, 
Massachusetts, Oregon (which had made the journey of 
14,000 miles around Cape Horn from San Francisco), 
Indiana, and the yachts Gloucester and Vixen. 

It was soon learned that Cervera's fleet had entered 
Santiago Harbor before the blockade had become effec- 
tual. To prevent his escape the collier Merrimac was 
sunk in the narrow entrance to the harbor by Richmond 
Pearson Hobson and a volunteer crew, who were taken 
prisoners and afterward exchanged. In spite of this par- 
tial blockade, Cervera, learning that the city was invested, 
attempted to escape on the morning of July 3. Formed 
in line, with orders to concentrate their fire on the Brook- 



320 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 

lyn and sail west, the fleet passed the sunken Merrimac 
and entered the open sea. Lookouts gave the alarm and 
a chase began. The accurate gunnery of the Americans 
made fearful havoc among the flying Spaniards. In half 
an hour after leaving the harbor the torpedo boats were 
sunk and two of the cruisers were afire and beached. The 
Viscaya was overtaken and driven ashore ablaze twenty 
miles up the coast and the Colon got as far as Rio Tor- 
quino, forty-eight miles, before she was forced to sur- 
render. The American loss was 1 killed and 2 wounded. 
The Spanish loss was probably several hundred. About 
1,300 prisoners were taken from the wrecks. 

Manila — [August 13, 1898] — Having made himself 
master of Manila Bay, Admiral Dewey had no intention 
of occupying the city without sufficient force to hold it. 
The native Filipinos, who had long been in rebellion 
against the Spanish, had established a government with 
Aguinaldo as dictator. May 25, 1898, General Thomas W. 
Anderson sailed from San Francisco with a force of 2,500 
men. Accompanied by the cruiser Charleston, Captain 
Glass, the expedition stopped at the Island of Guam 
June 20, and took possession of the Ladrone Islands, 
without opposition. July 25, General Francis V. Greene 
arrived with 3,586 men, consisting of Nebraska, Colorado, 
Pennsylvania and Utah volunteers, eight companies of 
regulars and a detachment of engineers. July 25, General 
Wesley Merritt arrived and took command of the 6,000 
troops already at Manila. July 31, 5,000 more men ar- 
rived from the United States, and during the night oc- 
curred the first skirmish on land. Greene's division had 
landed at Cavite and advanced along the coast toward 
Manila as far as Malate fort, when they were attacked and 
10 men killed and 43 wounded. Further firing resulted 
on August 5, in the loss of 3 killed and 7 wounded. 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 321 

August 4 the monitor Monterey arrived and on the 
13th a combined land and sea attack was made on the city. 
Resistance was slight. In Greene's division 1 man was 
killed and 6 wounded, while General MacArthur lost 4 
killed and 37 wounded. 

Puerto Rico— [July 25-August 12, 1898]— While op- 
erations against the Spanish in Cuba were in progress 
General Nelson A. Miles was organizing an expedition 
for the occupation of Puerto Rico, the easternmost of the 
Greater Antilles. June 14 he sailed from Tampa, Fla., 
with 15,800 men, and stopping to reinforce the army be- 
fore Santiago he landed at Guanica, on the southwest 
coast of Puerto Rico, with 3,300 men, on July 25, and 
after slight resistance proceeded to Ponce, defeating the 
Spaniards at Yauco on the way, and on the 26th Ponce 
surrendered. 

From Ponce the army proceeded in divisions toward 
San Juan, on the north coast of the island, encountering 
some slight resistance at Coamo, Mayaguez, Hormigueros 
and Lares. At the latter place news of the signing of the 
protocol was received and hostilities were suspended. 

Iloilo — [Feb. 11, 1899] — As soon as General Otis re- 
ceived word of the signing of the treaty of peace between 
the United States and Spain and the cession of the Isl- 
ands to the former, he dispatched General Miller with a 
small force to General Rios, commander of the Spanish 
forces, numbering 800, in Iloilo, on the island of Panay, 
and, next to Manila, the most important seaport in the 
Philippines. Upon his arrival he found the insurgent flag 
flying, Rios having surrendered to them Dec. 26, 1898. 

Spain having ceded the islands to the United States, the 
insurgents could only be considered rebellious subjects. 
They numbered some 20,000 and were under the imme- 
diate direction of Aguinaldo. 



INDEX. 



Page 

Adaline-Lottery 156 

Alert-Essex 147 

Allatoona, Ga. 294 

Autietam, Md 254 

Appomattox 305 

Arkansas Post, Ark., Capture of.... 260 

Argus-Pelican 172 

Asp, Defense of 160 

Atlanta, Ga 291 

Atlixco 214 

Augusta, Siege of 114 

Auttose Towns, Destruction of . 187 

Aux Canards 146 

Averysboro, N. C 300 

Bad Axe 194 

Balls Bluff, Va 227 

Baton Rouge, La 250 

Beaufort, S. C 80 

Beaver Dams 160 

Belmont, Mo 229 

Bemis Heights 57, 58 

Bentonville, N. C 301 

Bennington 64 

Berceau Boston 134 

Big Bethel, Va 220 

Big Black, Miss 265 

Black Hawk War 191 

Black Rock 171, 161 

Blackstocks 107 

Bladensburg 174 

Blandford, Va See Petersburg 

Blue Licks 124 

Bon Homme Richard-Serapis 90 

Boone, Fort, Siege of 75 

Boonville, Mo 221 

Boston, Siege and Evacuation of 29 

Boston Harbor 34 

Boston-Berceau 134 

Boxer-Enterprise 162 

Brandy Station 269 

Brandywine Creek, 55 

Brazito 205 

Briar Creek 82 

Bristow Station, Va 251 

Brown, Fort, Attack on 201 

Brownstown 147 

Buena Vista 207 

Buffalo, Destruction of 166 

Bull Run, Va 223 

Bunker Hill 19 

Burnt Corn Creek 185 

Calebee Creek 189 

Camden, S. C See Saunders Creek 

Canada 206 

Carleton's Men, Capture of 24 

Carnifex Ferry, Va 225 

Carthage, Mo 222 

Cedar Creek, Va 296 

Cedar Mountain or Cedar Run. — 250 

Cedar Spring 101 

Cerro Gordo 209 

Chalmette's Plantation 181 

Chambly (Fort) 22 



Page 

Champion Hills, Miss 264 

Chancellorsville, Va 262 

Chantilly, Va 252 

Chapultepec 211 

Charles City, Va 109 

Charleston, Siege of 93 

Charlotte, N. C. 105 

Chattanooga, Tenn 279 

Cherry Valley Massacre 78 

Chesapeake-Shannon 168 

Chicago Indian Massacre 148 

Chickamauga, Ga 276 

Chippewa 170 

Chrysler's Farm 165 

Churubusco 210 

Civil War 215 

Clinton and Montgomery, (Forts), 

Loss of 63 

Cobelskill 70 

Cold Harbor, Va 383 

Concord 14 

Connecticut Farms 97 

Constellation- Vengeance 133 

Constitution-Cyane-Levant 183 

Constitution-Guerriere 149 

Constellation-Insurgente 133 

Constitution-Java 153 

Contreras 209 

Corinth, Miss 257 

Corinth, Miss, Evacuated 244 

Cowpens 109 

Craney Island 160 

Creek Indian War 184 

Crooked Billet 69 

Cross Keys, Va 246 

Crown Point, Capture of 18 

Cyane-Constitution-Levant 183 

Detroit, Surrender of 148 

Donelson, (Fort), Tenn., Capture of 233 

Eastport, Me., Surrendered 170 

Econochaco or Holy Ground 188 

Elizabeth 154 

Elk Horn 234 

El Molino del Rey 211 

Emucfau 188 

Enotochopco Creek 189 

Enterprise-Tripoli 138 

Enterprise-Boxer 162 

Erie, (Fort) 169 

Erie, (Fort), Siege and Destruction. 173 

Essex-Alert 147 

Estedio, Capture of 140 

Eutaw Springs _ 119 

Experiment-LaDiane 134 

Ezra's Church, Ga 292 

Fairfield, Conn 85 

Fallen Timbers 128 

Farmville, Va 304 

Fish Dam Ford 107 

Fisher (Fort), N. C 298 

Fisher's Hill, Va 294 

Fishimr Creek 104 

Five Forks, Va 302 



324 FROM BUNKER HILL TO MANILA BAY. 



Page 

Fleetwood 269 

Franklin, Tenn 295 

Frazier's Farm 249 

Fredericksburg, Va 259 

Frenchtown 154 

Frolic- Wasp . .' 151 

Gaines's Mill 248 

Gananoqui Village 150 

George (Fort), Capture of 157 

George (Fort), Massacre near 161 

Germantown 61 

Gettysburg, Pa 270 

Goiding's Farm 248 

Great Bridge, Va 24 

Green Spring 101 

Grierson's Raid 261 

Griswold (Fort) 121 

Groveton, Va 251 

Guantanamo Bay 315 

Guerriere-Meshouda 140 

Guerriere-Constitution 149 

Guilford 112 

Hampton Roads, Va 235 

Hampton, Va 161 

Hancock's Bridge 69 

Hanging Rock 101 

Hanover Court House, Va 244 

Harlem 39 

Harper's Ferry, Va., Capture of . . . . 254 

Harrison (Fort), Attack on 149 

Harrison's Indian Campaign 141 

Hatcher's Run, Va 297 

Hatteras Expedition . 225 

Havre de Grace, Burning of 159 

Haw Massacre Ill 

Helena, Ark., Assault on 273 

Henry (Fort), Tenn 231 

Hillabee Towns, Destruction of 187 

Hobkirk's Hill 114 

Hornet-Peacock 156 

Hornet-Penguin 183 

Horse Shoe Bend 190 

Hostilities With France 130 

Huamantla 214 

Hubbardton, Vt 50 

Iloili 321 

Indian Creek Massacre 192 

Insurgente-Constellation 133 

Island No. 10 239 

Iuka, Miss 256 

Tackson, Miss 264 

Jamestown, Va 118 

Java-Constitution 153 

Jonesboro, Ga 292 

Junon, Attack on 160 

Kaskaskia 73 

Kenesaw Mountain 289 

Kernstown, Va 237 

Kettle Creek 80 

King's Mountain 106 

Knoxville 280 

La Colle Mills 167 

La Diane-Experiment 134 

Lake Borgne 179 

Lake Champlain 39, 178 

Lake Erie 162 

Las Guasimas 315 

Levant-Constitution-Cyane 183 

Lexington, Mass 13 

Lexington, Mo 226 

Long Island 36 



Page 

Longwoods 167 

Lookout Mountain, Tenn 278 

Lottery-Adaline 156 

Lundy's Lane 171 

McAllister (Fort), Ga., Capture and 

Fall of Savannah 299 

McCowan's Ford 110 

McHenry (Fort), Bombardment of.. 179 

Macedonian-United States 152 

Mackinac (Fort) 146 

Maguaga 147 

Madison (Fort), Defense of 149 

Malvern Hill 250 

Manassas 252 

Manila Bay 314 

Manila 320 

Margaretta, Capture of 17 

Matanzas Shelled 314 

Maumee Rapids. .. .See Fallen Timbers 

Mechanicsville 247 

Meigs (Fort), Bombardment of .... 157 

Memphis, Tenn., Capture of 245 

Mercer (Fort), Attack on 64 

Meshouda-Guerriere 140 

Mexico City, Surrender of 212 

Mexican War 199 

Miami Campaigns (The) 125 

Miami Towns Destroyed 127 

Middle Creek, Ky 230 

Mifflin (Fort) 65 

Milliken's Bend, La 268 

Mill Spring, Ky 230 

Mims (Fort), Massacre 185 

Minnisink _ 87 

Mississinniwa 153 

Missionary Ridge 279 

Mobile, Ala., Operations Against.... 306 

Monmouth 71 

Monocacy, Md 290 

Monterey 203 

Montreal, Occupation of 23 

Moore's Creek Bridge 27 

Morgan's Raid 274 

Motte (Fort), S. C 116 

Munfordville, Ky 256 

Murfreesborough 259 

Musgrove Mills 104 

Nashville, Tenn 296 

Newbern, N. C 236 

New Haven, Conn 85 

New Hope Church, Ga 287 

New London 121 

New Madrid, Mo 239 

New Orleans, Capture of 240 

New Orleans 182 

Niagara (Fort), Bombardment of.. 152 

Ninety-Six (Fort), Siege of 117 

Noddle's Island 19 

Norfolk, Va., Burning of 27 

Norfolk, Va., Surrender of 243 

North Anna Crossing 284 

North Point 178 

Norwalk, Conn 86 

Oak Grove 247 

Ogdensburg, Capture of 155 

Olustee, Fla 280 

Opequan 293 

Oriskany, N. Y 52 

Osborne's 116 

Oswego Captured by British 168 

Palo Alto 202 

Paoli Massacre 59 



INDEX. 



325 



Page 

Paulus Hook 89 

Peach Tree Creek 291 

Peacock-Hornet 156 

Pea Ridge, Ark 234 

Pekatonica River 193 

Pelican-Argus 172 

Penguin-Hornet 183 

Penobscot Towns 176 

Perryville, Ky 257 

Petersburg, Va 115 

Operations Against 285 

Assault on 303 

Philadelphia (The), Loss of 138 

Philadelphia, Occupation of 60 

Pigot, Capture of 77 

Pillow (Fort), Tenn., Massacre at.. 281 

Pittsburg Landing, Tenn 237 

Plattsburg 177 

Pleasant Hill, La 281 

Port Gibson, Miss 262 

Port Hudson, La., Surrender of 268 

Port Royal Expedition 228 

Poundridge, N. Y 84 

Prairie Grove, Ark 258 

President, Capture of 183 

Princeton 46 

Pueblo 213 

Puerto Rico 321 

Pulaski's Men, Massacre of 76 

Pumpkin Vine Creek, Ga 287 

Quaker Hill, R. 1 74 

Quantrell's Raid 276 

Ouebec 25 

Bueenston Heights 150 
._uinby's Creek 119 

Quintin's Bridge 68 

Raleigh, Loss of 76 

Ramsour's Mill 98 

Randolph, Loss of 68 

Raymond, Miss 264 

Reindeer- Wasp 169 

Republic (Fort), Va 246 

Resaca de la Palma 202 

Resaca, Ga 286 

Revolution, The War of 9 

Richmond, Va., Burning of 108 

Richmond, Fall of 304 

Richmond, Ky 255 

Rich Mountain, W. Va 222 

Ridgefield, Conn 48 

River Raisin 154 

Roanoke Island, N. C, Expedition . . 232 

Rocky Mount, Assault on 101 

Rodriguez's Canal 181 

St. Clair's Defeat 127 

St. George (Fort) 108 

St. Johns 21 

St. Johns, Capture of 18 

St. Philip CFort) 182 

St. Regis, Capture of 152 

Sabine Cross Roads, La 281 

Sackett's Harbor, Attack on 158 

Sacramento Pass 207 

Sailor's Creek, Va 304 

Sandy Creek 168 

San Gabriel, Cal 206 

San Pasqual 204 

Santa Rosa Island 227 

Santiago 316 

Santiago Harbor 319 

Saunders Creek, S. C 103 

Savage's Station 249 

Savannah, Capture of 78 



Page 

Savannah, Siege of 92 

Seminole War 195 

Seneca Expedition 88 

Seven Days' Battles 246 

Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, Va. 245 

Shannon-Chesapeake 158 

Shiloh, Tenn 237 

South Mountain, Md 253 

Spanish-American War 308 

Spencer's Ordinary 118 

Spottsylvania Court House 283 

Springfield, N. J 99 

Steedman (Fort), Assault on 302 

Stephenson (Fort), Attack on 162 

Stillman's Run 192 

Stone River 259 

Stonington 172 

Stono Ferry 83 

Stony Creek 159 

Stony Point 86 

Streight's Raid 261 

Sullivan (Fort), (Charleston, S. C), 

Defense of 35 

Sumter (Fort), Fired on 220 

Tallasehatche 186 

Talladega 186 

Taos 206 

Tappan, Massacre at 75 

Thames 164 

Ticonderoga, Capture of 16 

Tippecanoe 142 

Toronto (York), Capture of 156 

Trenton 44 

Tripoli, Bombarded 138 

Tripoli-Enterprise 138 

Trumbull-Watt 96 

Turkey Creek Bridge 146 

United States-Macedonian 152 

Vengeance-Constellation 133 

Vera Cruz 208 

Vicksburg, Miss., Siege and Capture 

of 266 

Yillere's Plantation 180 

Vincennes 81 

Wagner (Fort), S. C 273 

Wahab's Plantation 105 

War of 1812 (The) 143 

War with the Barbary States 135 

Washington, Burned 175 

Washington (Fort), Capture of 42 

Wasp-Frolic 151 

Wasp-Reindeer 169 

Wateree Ford 102 

Watson (Fort), S. C 113 

Wauhatchie, Tenn 277 

Waxhaw 96 

Weldon Railroad, Va., Seizure and 

Destruction of 288 

Wetzell's Mill . Ill 

Whitemarsh 66 

White Plains 41 

Williamson's Farm 100 

Wilson's Creek, Mo., 224 

Wilderness, Va 282 

Williamsburg. Va 242 

Winchester, Va., 237, 243, 269, 293 

Wisconsin Heights 193 

Wyoming 72 

York (Toronto), Capture of 156 

Yorktown 122 

Yorktown, McClellan's Siege of. . . . 241 
Young's House 95 



&77-1 



